Mating as a stress resilience behavior in Callosobruchus

While stress impacts fitness negatively, this study reveals a valuable behavior in Callosobruchus maculatus. This study explored the effects of intermittent and continuous cold stress on insect longevity, fecundity, hatch rate, and mating behavior while concurrently investigating the potential advantages of mating access during stressful conditions. We demonstrate that mating immediately after cold stress enhances survival and reproductive success and suggests a novel mechanism for stress resilience. Short-term sexual separation during either stressor type had detrimental long-term consequences on reproductive output. Cold exposure significantly reduced the lifespan for both male and female insects when the sexes were separated. Conversely, cohabitation during stress enhanced stress tolerance and preserved lifespan for both sexes. Adult emergence rates were significantly lower in the cold exposure group with sex separation compared to the group without separation. Callosobruchus maculatus appears to have developed a coping mechanism for stress involving rapid mating. Almost all (92.5 %) insects exposed to intermittent cold conditions mated within a short 10-min period after the cold exposure. Control gave 80 % mating, resulting in only a 12.5 % increase in mating success after cold treatment. Considering the established link between mating and the production of stress-resistant compounds, we hypothesize mating could help this species cope with and recover from stressful environments.