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Ophraella communa is a biological control agent of invasive common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia. To understand the mate choice tactic of the beetle and improve mass-rearing of high-quality populations, the effects of morphological traits, age and copulation experience on mate choice in this beetle were studied in the laboratory. The results showed thatmate choice of male or female was related to certain adult morphological traits. Wing length, black streak width of frons and metaleg femur length of males were central to female mate choice. Females with longer wing length, black streak width of frons, pronotum width and foreleg tibia length were more attractive to males than those with the smaller ones. The chosen rate of older males was significantly higher than those of younger ones, and the chosen rate of females reached a maximum value on the 8th day after eclosion. The newly copulated females were less attractive to males than virgins, but females that have copulated in the distant past were more attractive than or were similar to virgins. The chosen rates of virgin males were significantly higher than those of newly copulated and 8 days past copulated ones, but no difference between virgin males and 3, 5 or 12 days past copulated ones in O. communa. The results of our study have added much needed empirical data regarding the significance of morphological traits, age and copulation experience as a source of variation in insect copulation signals. In addition, the results provide valuable information for mass-rearing of high-quality populations of O. communa. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Since insects are ectothermic, they are highly vulnerable to the sudden increase of temperature. Indeed, it has been hypothesized that the survival, development, fecundity, and even population expansion of insects are all affected significantly by extremely high temperature. We studied the effect of short-term high temperature stress on the survival and development of different stages, adult longevity and fecundity of Ophraella communa (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of the invasive plant, the common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia (Asterales: Asteraceae) in the laboratory. The results showed that egg, larval, pupal and adult survival rates were significantly affected after 2 hour-short-stress at high temperatures (35 to 47°C) when compared to the 28°C control. With the exceptions of the control and 35°C stress, survival rate of females was significantly higher than that of males after short-stress at any high temperature. Short-term high temperature stress also significantly impacted longevity and fecundity of adult beetles. Except for control, female longevity was significantly longer than male's after short-stress at any high temperature. The survival rates of different stages, and adult longevity and fecundity of the beetle decreased significantly with the increase of short-term stress temperature. Based on the results of the present study, we conclude that the development and population expansion of O. communa may be significantly affected when they are exposed to a high temperature stage in a summer day in the areas invaded by common ragweed, in southern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophraella communaLeSage is native to North America and a biological control agent of the invasive weedAmbrosia artemisiifoliaL. SinceA. artemisiifoliaplants grow old and die after September annually,O. communasuffers from food shortage. To understand the effect of food shortage or deprivation on population fitness ofO. communa, the development and fecundity and hatchability of its progeny eggs were observed when larvae were offeredA. artemisiifoliaplants for either 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours daily. The results showed that larval food deprivation significantly influenced survival and developmental durations of larvae and pupae. Survival rates and developmental durations of larvae and pupae decreased and were prolonged significantly with decreasing time of larval daily food intake. Longevity and fecundity of adults shortened and decreased significantly with decreasing time of larval daily food intake. In addition, the hatch rates of progeny eggs decreased significantly with decreasing time of larval daily food intake. The present study suggests that food shortage is one of the most critical factors that suppressesO. communapopulations. This can explain why field populations of the beetle decrease significantly with ageing and death ofA. artemisiifoliaplants after late September. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life-history strategies of animals are governed by fitness-related trait trade-offs. In particular, the age at which either one of the two sexes copulate has been shown to affect insect reproductive output and longevity. This suggests that trade-offs between longevity and reproduction might drive the choice of a mating partner based on their age and ultimately such choices might select for different life-histories. Although several studies indicate that female age at mating dictates subsequent insect longevity, fecundity, and egg hatch rate, it is unclear how male age at copulation affects these life-history traits. In this study, we simultaneously investigated the effects of female and male age on female fecundity, eggs hatch rate, and adult longevity inOphraella communaLeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomellidae), the primary biological control agent of the invasive common ragweed,Ambrosia artemisiifoliaL. We found that young mature females lived significantly longer when they were mated with older males. Maximum female fecundity and subsequent egg hatch rate occurred when young females mated with 3-day-old males. On the other hand, females lived longer when mating with an older male. These findings are in accordance with the cost-of-reproduction concept. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]