Influence of multiple mating on female reproductive fitness in the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae

Abstract

The rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L) (Coleoptera Curculionidae) is an important pest of stored grains throughout the world This paper examined how multiple mating affected female reproductive fitness in the laboratory Over 60 days females that permanently paired with males mated twice with different males or four times with the same males did not suffer from significant decline of offspring survival while females mated once twice with the same males and four times with different males had significant declines It is suggested that mating once or twice with the same males is not enough for females to maximise their reproductive fitness The significant decline of offspring survival in females that mated with four different males may be caused by reproductive organ damage or other factors that reduce their fertility due to excessive polyandry