Age, weight, and mating status of the male influence female choice and reproductive success in Tuta absoluta

Abstract

Mate choice is a fundamental behavior of polyandrous insects, in which individuals prefer mates that exhibit characteristic traits of higher reproductive quality. Tuta absoluta (Meyrick 1917) is the main pest in tomato cultivation and is difficult to control. Pheromones-based strategies; including monitoring, mass trapping and mating disruption; are recommended within integrated pest management of this pest. However, significant losses in tomato production are still reported despite the effective capture of males suggesting a potential failure of the used pheromones-based technologies in the field. As this situation may be related to the sexual behavior of this species, this study aimed to investigate how male’s characteristics, such as body weight, mating status, and age, influence the reproductive behavior of T. absoluta females and thus understanding the reported efficacy losses. First, we conducted a set of tests in which females were allowed to choose between males of different weights, mating status, and age. The effects of mating with males presenting the most contrasting characteristics on the females, reproductive outputs and longevity were assessed. Our results show that females of T. absoluta prefer males with higher reproductive quality (young, virgin and heavy) and that the male’s body weight had a direct influence on the increased longevity and reproductive performance of females. Understanding the reproductive success of these insects can help develop more effective control technologies to better reduce losses in tomato production caused by this pest.