Experienced males recognise and avoid mating with non-virgin females in the western flower thrips.

ABSTRACT: The western flower thrips Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a major insect pest on a wide range of crops throughout the world. There are several unexplained aspects of the mating behaviour, particularly in relation to male-male competition and mate choice. The objectives of the study were to test whether males can detect the mating status of females and whether males avoid mating with previously mated females. Experiments involved either 'experienced' adults taken from a laboratory culture, which had been exposed to high densities of thrips, or virgin adults reared individually. Experienced males mated readily with virgin females, but avoided mating with experienced females. Virgin males showed much less discrimination between females. Avoidance of mating with experie

SUBMITTER: Akinyemi AO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6797189 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature