Genetic variation in male remating lag in Spalangia endius (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of house fly pupae

Genetic Variation in Male Remating Lag in Spalangia endius (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), a parasitoid of house fly pupae

C. Robyn Fischer

ABSTRACT

Many mating behaviors are assumed to be under natural selection, and consequently one would expect to find genetic variation within a given population for such behaviors. Whether or not an individual remates, the amount of time between each mating, and how many mates one acquires may significantly impact reproductive success and individual fitness. Studies have often focused on female remating; however, here I examine time-until-male remating in the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius. I generated isofemale lines in order to test the hypothesis that time-until-male-remating shows genetic variation. After nine generations of sibmating, I examined male remating rate. For testing, each male was mated sequentially to two females from the original lab line. Time-until-remating was greater among lines than within lines; therefore, genetic variation appears to exist.