Evaluating aggregation membership and copulatory success in the stink bug, Euschistus conspersus, using field and laboratory experiments
1Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 West State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907-2089
2Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, 1100 North
Western Ave., Wenatchee, WA 98801
Abstract
The aggregation and mating behavior of the stink bug, Euschistus conspersus Uhler (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) was investigated in a series of field and laboratory experiments. Marking of E. conspersus mating in aggregations in the field demonstrated that both sexes mate multiple times within aggregations on successive nights and with different partners, although ≈ 20% of the individuals of both sexes returned to aggregations but did not mate. Further analysis of mating patterns in caged aggregations revealed that heavy males and light females mated more frequently than their respective counterparts. Data are interpreted in terms of elucidating the function of benefits of multiple mating within aggregations for males and females.
Keywords: behavior, mate choice, size
Correspondence:
ackrupke@purdue.edu,
bvpjones@wsu.edu,
cjfb@wsu.edu
Received: 11 June 2009 | Accepted: 7 July 2009 | Published: 12 January 2011
Copyright: This is an open access paper. We use the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license that permits unrestricted use, provided that the paper is properly attributed.
ISSN: 1536-2442 | Volume 11, Number 2
Krupke CH, Jones VP , Brunner JF. 2011. Evaluating aggregation membership and copulatory success in the stink bug, Euschistus conspersus, using field and laboratory experiments. Journal of Insect Science 11:2 available online: insectscience.org/11.2
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