Male copulatory success: Heritability and relationship to mate fecundity in the southern green stinkbug, nezara viridula (hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Abstract

Single male southern green stinkbugs, Nezara viridula, sequestered in mating chambers with six females varied in the number of copulations achieved. Females copulating with relatively successful males were more fecund than females copulating with less successful males. This suggests that females mating successful males receive greater nutritional rewards per mating or that their risk of contagion is reduced. There was a significant correlation between the mating success of fathers and sons. Since egg quality (hatch rate) and egg size (diameter) did not covary with male copulatory success, this correlation indicates additive genetic variation for male mating, success in a natural population. Thus, for females there appears to be a positive relationship between offspring quality and mate effects on fecundity. Additive genetic variation for mating success may be maintained by countervailing mortality selection on males imposed by a parasitoid which is attracted by male pheromones. © 1990 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.