Reproductive behaviour of an aphidophagous ladybeetle Coccinella transversalis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

摘要

The reproductive behaviour of an aphidophagous ladybeetle Coccinella transversalis Fabricius was studied. Males and females attained sexual maturity within 8.50 +/- 0.34 and 11.70 +/- 0.43 days, respectively. The ladybeetle mated 4-5 times a day. The mating duration and number of bouts (abdominal shakings) and units (sequential abdominal shakings during copulation) per bout decreased with increasing number of matings from the first to the fourth, while latent periods (time between genital contact and first abdominal shaking) and intervals (short rest between bouts) were the opposite. The mating duration, the number of bouts and units per bout were higher in unmated males copulating with virgin females than in previously mated pairs. Mate recognition by males may result from both chemical and visual cues. The maximum oviposition period, fecundity and egg hatchability were attained after repeated matings. During oviposition, the females preferred laying on the host plant Lagenaria vulgaris leaves to glass, plastic, cloth or paper. They preferred laying on a green substrate rather than on other colours.