VIRGIN MALES ARE BETTER MATING PARTNERS THAN THE EXPERIENCED ONES: A CASE STUDY OF MENOCHILUS SEXMACULATUS (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

We studied the effect of male-mating history on mating performance and reproductive output of a predaceous of ladybird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus by manipulating copulation between virgin females and males of varying mating experience, viz. (i) unmated, (ii) once, (iii) twice, and (iv) thrice. Virgin males were more agile and longing to copulate than the once, twice and thrice mated ones. Previously virgin males initiated the mating much earlier (2.82±0.22 min) than the thrice mated ones (4.21±0.28 min). The mating duration, fecundity and egg viability (%) were maximum when virgins copulated and decreased with male-mating history. Both fecundity and egg viability exhibited a declining trend with an increase in the copulation with males having greater mating experience. The offspring of previously unmated male developed fastest with a high larval survival (%), adult emergence (%) and growth index than those of previously mated ones and slowed down as their mating experiences increased. Thus, we conclude that the virgin males of M. sexmaculatus are better mating partners than the experienced ones.