Does geographical origin affect lateralization and male mating success in Rhyzopertha dominica beetles?. (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boukouvala, Maria C.; Romano, Donato; Kavallieratos, Nickolas G.; Athanassiou, Christos G.; Stefanini, Cesare; Conte, Giuseppe; Canale, Angelo; Benelli, Giovanni
• Is Part Of: Journal of stored products research. Volume 88(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Behavioural asymmetries -- Courtship behaviour -- Lesser grain borer -- Male success -- Stored product beetle; Food -- Storage -- Periodicals; Farm produce -- Storage -- Diseases and injuries -- Periodicals; Entomology -- Periodicals; Food Contamination -- Periodicals; Food Preservation -- Periodicals; Insect Control -- Periodicals; Aliments -- Entreposage -- Périodiques; Produits agricoles -- Entreposage -- Maladies et dommages -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 631.568
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jspr.2020.101630
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-474X

Abstract

Abstract: The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), is an important pest of stored grains globally. In this study, the impact of geographical origin on male mating success and lateralization in three strains of R. dominica (i.e., a Greek strain, a Romanian strain and a Turkish strain) was investigated. Concerning the Greek strain, even though most males showed a left-biased approach, males performing right-biased copulation attempts achieved the highest proportion of successful copulations. Males of the Romanian and Turkish strains exhibited right-biased approaches and copulation attempts, resulting in higher mating success over the males that approached and performed copulation attempts from the left or backside of females. Copula was significantly longer than mate recognition and precopula phases. Furthermore, copula duration was significantly longer in the Turkish strain over the Romanian strain, while copula duration differences between Greek and Romanian individuals, as well as between Greek and Turkish individuals, were not significant. Unsuccessful sexual interactions were characterized by a longer precopula in Greek and Romanian strains, but not in the Turkish strain. Our results add basic knowledge to the mating behaviour of R. dominica, with emphasis on impact of the geographical origin and laterality on male mating success, which may be helpful for optimizing mass-rearing techniques of stored-product pests needed for large-scale laboratory or semi-field experiments, as well as to contribute to the development of behaviour-based control tools. Highlights: The impact of geographical origin on lateralization and mating success in 3 Rhyzopertha dominica strains. Copula duration significantly differed among tested strains was assessed. Key mating traits were lateralized at population-level, with significant differences among strains. Right-biased copulation attempts were followed by the highest mating success in all strains. Our findings could help to optimize mass-rearing needed for large-scale laboratory or semi-field trials.