Female delayed mating has a limited impact on the reproductive output of Cerambyx welensii, a synovigenic longhorn beetle

Abstract

Increased female age at mating is considered a detrimental factor on reproductive output and fitness in insects, even if the impact is rather species specific. The effect of delayed mating on reproductive output has been widely studied in pest species controlled with mating disruption, as if the method is not fully effective in suppressing matings, it could still delay them, limiting female fitness and pest damage. Female mating delay, however, may also occur in natural habitats without invoking mating disruption. We studied the effect of female delayed mating in Cerambyx welensii (Küster) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), an oak-living sapro-xylophagous longhorn beetle considered a critical factor in oak decline. Several life history and ecological traits may potentially delay mating, including low abundance, (re)colonisation processes, sexual communication channel, host-produced kairomones, operational sex ratio, reproductive interference and adverse weather conditions. We conducted laboratory tests to assess the impact of mating delays (0-, 10-, 20- and 30-day post-emergence) on reproductive output. Data showed that mating delay until at least 20 days of age had a limited effect on mating success, lifetime fecundity, longevity and fertility. The daily fecundity pattern depended on mating delay, and virgin females showed ovarian retention. We conclude that C. welensii females have evolved physiological adaptations to overcome mating delays and optimise fitness. We discuss our results from an evolutionary perspective, considering specifically the risk of early predation and egg-laying time limitation. We hypothesise that unpredictable recurrent stochastic variation in male availability could act as an additional driver selecting for synovigeny in this longhorn species.