Polyandry increases reproductive performance but does not decrease survival in female Brontispa longissima.

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Behavioral Ecology
• Reproductive Biology

Background:

• Polyandry, the mating of a female with multiple males, is common in insects but its costs and benefits are not fully understood.
• Brontispa longissima is a significant pest of coconut palms, making its reproductive strategies relevant for pest management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of multiple mating on the reproductive performance of female Brontispa longissima.
• To determine if mating with multiple males (polyandry) or repeated mating with a single male offers greater reproductive benefits.

Main Methods:

• Three experimental groups were established: singly-mated females, females mating 10 times with the same male, and females mating once with 10 different males.
• Reproductive performance metrics including total egg production and hatching success were compared across treatments.

Main Results:

• Both multiple mating treatments significantly increased total egg production and hatching success compared to single mating.
• Polyandry resulted in higher total egg production and hatching success than repeated mating with a single male.
• No significant differences were observed in female longevity or various reproductive period lengths among the treatments.

Conclusions:

• Multiple mating, particularly with diverse partners, provides substantial fecundity and fertility benefits to female Brontispa longissima.
• The absence of longevity costs associated with polyandry likely contributes to its prevalence in this species.