Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae)
In the laboratory, not all females of the seed bug Lygaeus simulans Deckert, 1985, produced fertilized eggs after copulation: 26.7% of the females were not inseminated and 5% were inseminated but did not lay fertilized eggs; only in 40% of the couples did copulation result in fertile eggs. The remai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science
2000-04-01
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| Series: | European Journal of Entomology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200001-0003_Insemination_and_fertilization_in_the_seed_bug_Lygaeus_simulans_Heteroptera_Lygaeidae.php |
| _version_ | 1818963552541605888 |
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| author | Thomas MICHOLITSCH Peter KRÜGEL Günther PASS |
| author_facet | Thomas MICHOLITSCH Peter KRÜGEL Günther PASS |
| author_sort | Thomas MICHOLITSCH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the laboratory, not all females of the seed bug Lygaeus simulans Deckert, 1985, produced fertilized eggs after copulation: 26.7% of the females were not inseminated and 5% were inseminated but did not lay fertilized eggs; only in 40% of the couples did copulation result in fertile eggs. The remaining 28.3% of couples refrained from mating. Duration of copulation was associated with insemination and fertilization: (i) fertile eggs were produced by only one couple that copulated for less than 60 min and all those that copulated for more than 360 min, (ii) probability of fertilization increased steadily with duration of copulation between 60 and 360 min, and (iii) duration of copulation was significantly different for couples that showed different insemination status.A possible morphological explanation for this rime dependency was revealed by examining the genitalia of 69 couples freeze-fixed in copula after different periods in copulation. Because of the intricate structure of the genitalia in L. simulans, a male takes a long time to manoeuver its intromittent organ into the narrow insemination duct of the female. Only if completely inserted is the tip of the intromittent organ close enough for successful ejaculation of sperm into the spermatheca. The freeze-fixing experiment revealed that it usually took the male more than 30 min to locate the entrance to the insemination duct and another 30 min for full penetration. This explains why copulations that lasted less than 60 min failed, since insemination began only after intromission was complete.The experiments, therefore, indicated that there is a relationship between the complex morphology of the genitalia and the low rates of insemination and fertilization in L. simulans. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:47:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9a245c28ae3462c90844f0bef3ed3ce |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1210-5759 1802-8829 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T12:47:02Z |
| publishDate | 2000-04-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science |
| record_format | Article |
| series | European Journal of Entomology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9a245c28ae3462c90844f0bef3ed3ce2022-12-21T19:40:17ZengInstitute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of ScienceEuropean Journal of Entomology1210-57591802-88292000-04-01971131810.14411/eje.2000.003eje-200001-0003Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae)Thomas MICHOLITSCHPeter KRÜGEL0Günther PASS1Institute of Zoology, Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Wien, Austria; e-mail: Thomas.Micholitsch@bmf.gv.atInstitute of Zoology, Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Wien, Austria; e-mail: Thomas.Micholitsch@bmf.gv.atIn the laboratory, not all females of the seed bug Lygaeus simulans Deckert, 1985, produced fertilized eggs after copulation: 26.7% of the females were not inseminated and 5% were inseminated but did not lay fertilized eggs; only in 40% of the couples did copulation result in fertile eggs. The remaining 28.3% of couples refrained from mating. Duration of copulation was associated with insemination and fertilization: (i) fertile eggs were produced by only one couple that copulated for less than 60 min and all those that copulated for more than 360 min, (ii) probability of fertilization increased steadily with duration of copulation between 60 and 360 min, and (iii) duration of copulation was significantly different for couples that showed different insemination status.A possible morphological explanation for this rime dependency was revealed by examining the genitalia of 69 couples freeze-fixed in copula after different periods in copulation. Because of the intricate structure of the genitalia in L. simulans, a male takes a long time to manoeuver its intromittent organ into the narrow insemination duct of the female. Only if completely inserted is the tip of the intromittent organ close enough for successful ejaculation of sperm into the spermatheca. The freeze-fixing experiment revealed that it usually took the male more than 30 min to locate the entrance to the insemination duct and another 30 min for full penetration. This explains why copulations that lasted less than 60 min failed, since insemination began only after intromission was complete.The experiments, therefore, indicated that there is a relationship between the complex morphology of the genitalia and the low rates of insemination and fertilization in L. simulans.https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200001-0003_Insemination_and_fertilization_in_the_seed_bug_Lygaeus_simulans_Heteroptera_Lygaeidae.phpheteropteralygaeus simulansgenitaliacopulationcryptic female choicesperm utilizationspermathecaaedeagusprocessus gonophoriinseminationfertilization |
| spellingShingle | Thomas MICHOLITSCH Peter KRÜGEL Günther PASS Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) European Journal of Entomology heteroptera lygaeus simulans genitalia copulation cryptic female choice sperm utilization spermatheca aedeagus processus gonophori insemination fertilization |
| title | Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) |
| title_full | Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) |
| title_fullStr | Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) |
| title_short | Insemination and fertilization in the seed bug Lygaeus simulans (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) |
| title_sort | insemination and fertilization in the seed bug lygaeus simulans heteroptera lygaeidae |
| topic | heteroptera lygaeus simulans genitalia copulation cryptic female choice sperm utilization spermatheca aedeagus processus gonophori insemination fertilization |
| url | https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200001-0003_Insemination_and_fertilization_in_the_seed_bug_Lygaeus_simulans_Heteroptera_Lygaeidae.php |
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