Consequence of emergence pattern on inbreeding risk in the aphid parasitoid Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

ABSTRACT

In insect parasitoids, mating strategy depends on mate availability and is influenced by the spatial and temporal emergence patterns of adults. For quasi-gregarious species, simultaneous emergence favors local mating and reduces search costs for partners while increasing the risk of inbreeding, particularly when only one female parasitizes the initial host patch. Consequently, in inbreeding sensitive species, mating on the place of adult emergence (patch mating) between siblings should be counter selected. In practice, the timing of male and female emergence and of their dispersal influences mate availability and can limit on patch mating. To test the role of these two factors, we analyzed the daily distribution of emergence and patch residence time of a cohort in the aphid parasitoid Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We observed that adult emergence is concentrated on the morning with males emerging on average before females with some overlaps. A more precise evaluation of emergence pattern within a brood suggests that brothers and sisters rarely emerge at the same time and rapid dispersal of males and females favors off-patch mating. The relationships between timing of emergence including differences between sex and consequences on inbreeding probability in these species are thus discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Mate availability
• protandry
• local mate competition
• timing of emergence
• post emergence dispersal
• inbreeding avoidance

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Viridaxis S.A. for providing the insect material. This publication is number 341 of the Biodiversity Research Centre (UCL).The author report no conflicts of interest.