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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.08.020 Byline: M. Aluja, D. Perez-Staples, J. Sivinski, A. Sanchez, J. PiA[+ or -]ero Abstract: We investigated the effects of male size and adult diet on male sexual competitiveness and lifetime reproductive success of female mates in two tephritid flies with contrasting natural histories, the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens, and the guava fruit fly, A. striata. Small, medium and large males received either a low-quality diet (sucrose offered every third day) or a high-quality diet (sucrose and protein offered ad libitum). Regardless of size or species, males on the high-quality diet copulated significantly more often across the 4 observation days than males on the low-quality diet. For A. ludens, both size and diet influenced territory defence by resident males, but only size affected the likelihood of success by invading males. Females that copulated with a low-quality fed male had significantly shorter maximum longevity, although there was no effect of male diet on the proportion of eclosed eggs. For A. striata, diet, but not size, influenced territory defence by invading males. Females discriminated strongly against males fed a low-quality diet but not against smaller males. However, females that copulated with medium and small males had lower fecundities than those copulating with large males. We discuss the costs for females of mating with smaller males and their inability to distinguish between males of different conditions, as well as interspecific differences in mate choice and postcopulatory consequences for females in terms of the ecological differences that distinguish these two species. Author Affiliation: (a) Instituto de Ecologia, A.C., Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico (a ) INBIOTECA, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico (a ) Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A. Article History: Received 18 January 2008; Revised 18 February 2008; Accepted 6 August 2008 Article Note: (miscellaneous) MS. number: A08-00043

The success of the sterile insect technique (SIT) requires the release of males that can compete with wild males. Elevated juvenile hormone (JH) levels and hydrolysed yeast-enriched adult diets improve the sexual attractiveness and competitiveness of sterile male Anastrepha ludens (Loew; Mexican fruit fly), used in large-scale SIT programmes in Mexico and Texas. We applied methoprene (a JH analogue) to A. ludens using two methods, topically on individual sterile adults and mass- immersion of pupae after irradiation. Hydrolysed yeast was either used dry or in agar blocks. Laboratory and field cage experiments were conducted to compare male maturation and sexual performance when males exposed to four different treatments competed for females: (M+P+) application of methoprene and sugar plus hydrolysed yeast as adult food; (M+P−) application of methoprene and sugar only as adult food; (M−P+) no application of methoprene and sugar plus hydrolysed yeast as adult food; and (M−P−) no application of methoprene and sugar only as adult food. Methoprene and hydrolysed yeast accelerated the male sexual maturation from 9 to 5 days after the emergence. Combined application of methoprene and hydrolysed yeast had a significant effect on increased male sexual performance in both laboratory and field cage tests. Methoprene application also accelerates female maturation, although less than in males. The substantial improvements in male sexual performance and sexual maturation that can be obtained by incorporating the use of JH analogue and hydrolysed protein, and the development of techniques for their practical application on a large scale, can contribute to a more cost-effective deployment of sterile male Mexican fruit flies in SIT programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the effects of host fruit volatiles on parasitoid host-searching behavior of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata. Effect of host fruit on parasitoid host location; Effect of host fruit and fly species on the performance of parasitoids; Sex ratio of progeny; Relationship between size and longevity and fecundity and sex ratio of progeny.