Erik J. Wenninger, erik.wenninger@ars.usda.gov and David G. Hall, david.hall@ars.usda.gov. USDA-ARS, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory, Subtropical Insects Research Unit, 2001 South Rock Road, Fort Pierce, FL
We evaluated the importance of multiple mating to female reproductive output in the psyllid Diaphorina citri. When held for 24 h with one or three males, females showed a marked decline in fecundity beginning ca. 10 d and 15 d after mating, respectively. Fecundity remained relatively high for females that were paired with one male for 2 weeks, but oviposition was low and mortality high when females were held with three males for 2 weeks. In treatments in which females were held with males for 2 weeks, oviposition increased dramatically in the days following removal of males. For females paired with a male for 24 h and repaired for 24 h after 9 d, fecundity remained high throughout our 18-19 d observation period. Egg fertility did not differ among mating treatment, but varied over time in a manner that was similar among treatments.
Species 1: Hemiptera Psyllidae
Diaphorina citri (Asian citrus psyllid)