Effect of age and mating status on the mate choice of male bed bugs, Cimex lectularius

The females’ feeding status (fed or unfed) has been demonstrated to affect the mating success of male bed bug, Cimex lectularius (Heteroptera: Cimicidae). However, whether the mating status, age, and post-mating duration (PMD) of females and males could influence male’s mate choice and mating competency is unclear. We studied the mate choice and mating competency of male bed bugs in experimental arenas through video tracking for 10 min in each experiment. In the experiment examining males’ mate choices, males preferred to first mount and spend time copulating with virgin and old females (4-5 wk old). When each male was placed with two females of different mating status, 71% males first mounted the virgin females versus 29% males first mounted the mated females (mated 1 h earlier); the mean total copulation duration of virgin and mated females was 38 and 15 s, respectively. When each male was placed with two females of different age (less than 1 wk vs 4-5 wk old), 66% males first mounted the old females versus 34% males first mounted the young females; the mean total copulation duration of old and young females was 38 and 24 s, respectively. In the experiment of examining the mating competency, virgin and old males (4-5 wk old) were more eager to mate than mated (mated 1 h earlier) and young males (less than 1 wk old). When each female was offered two males of different mating status, 74% of the first mount was accomplished by virgin males versus 26% by the mated males; the mean total copulation duration per virgin male and mated male was 43 and 16 s, respectively. When each female was offered two males of different age, 69% of the first mount was accomplished by old males versus 31% by the young males; the mean total copulation duration per old and young male was 192 and 50 s, respectively. The females’ resistance to males was not associated with females’ or males’ mating status or age. The effect of males’ and females’ mating status is related to PMD. Males could not discriminate between virgin females and females mated 7 d earlier, but can discriminate between virgin females and females mated 1 and 3 d earlier. Similarly, there were significant differences in the mating behavior between virgin males and males mated 1 and 3 d earlier, but the differences became insignificant at 7 d after mating. In conclusion, bed bugs’ mate choice and mating competency are associated with age and mating status. This association is influenced by PMD.