Multiple mating by female Colorado potato beetles ( Leptinotarsa decemlineata)

This study examined possible benefits for multiple mating by females using the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata). The question of multiple mating is divided into two different questions: Why do females mate with multiple males (polyandry), and why do females mate multiple times with the same male (repeated matings)? One hypothesis for polyandry is that females receive material benefits from multiple matings. These data fail to support the material benefit hypothesis as an explanation for polyandry. For repeated matings, this research tested the sperm material benefit and non-sperm material benefit hypotheses. Both hypotheses for repeated matings predict an increase in fecundity with an increase in matings, while the sperm material benefit hypothesis also predicts an increase in sperm stores with an increase in matings. There was, however, no such relationship in any fecundity measures or sperm stores. Therefore, we conclude that neither material benefits hypotheses is supported. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...