Macronutrient composition of spermatophores of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri varies depending on male feeding

Many insect species produce nutritive ejaculates, which represent the male’s contribution to female reproductive fitness. Studies on the quantification of male contribution are assessed via indirect observations and direct assessment through the post-copulation effect on female reproductive performance, such as longevity and fecundity. Few studies directly address the nutritive content transferred by males via spermatophores. In species with multiple copulations, males produce ejaculates whose proportion of allocated substances varies according to the adult diet. We hypothesized that the spermatophores of C. montrouzieri show significant variations in nutrient composition when dietary modifications occur and whether this affects female fecundity and fertility. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the macronutrient proteins, lipids, sugars, and glycogen using colorimetric methods. We tested for quantitative changes in these macronutrients in adult males well-fed with Planococcus cit..., A colony of C. montrouzieri was established at the Laboratório de Entomologia Aplicada (LEA) at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE). The individuals were maintained under constant conditions of 25 ± 1°C, 40 ± 10% relative humidity, and a 12-hour photoperiod. Larvae and adults C. montrouzieri were fed on adult females of Planococcus citri (Family: Pseudococcidae). Colonies of P. citri were kept in the laboratory and fed commercial \"jacarezinho\" pumpkins (Cucurbita moschata). Last-instar larvae of C. montrouzieri were separated and placed individually in Petri dishes (8 cm × 1.5 cm). Upon adult emergence (<24 hours), they were sexed and separated by gender for use in experiments. Adult Diets Females used in the experiments were maintained on a standard diet of adult P. citri females, ad libitum. Males were subjected to different dietary treatments: 1) Well-fed: males were fed adult females of P. citri, ad libitum. 2) Food scarcity: males were fed two adult females of P. citri..., , # Macronutrient composition of spermatophores of *Cryptolaemus montrouzieri* varies depending on male feeding [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vhhmgqp4c](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vhhmgqp4c) ## Description of the data and file structure **Adult Diets** Females used in the experiments were maintained on a standard diet of adult *P. citri* females, *ad libitum*. Males were subjected to different dietary treatments: 1) Well-fed: males were fed adult females of *P. citri*, *ad libitum*. 2) Food scarcity: males were fed two adult females of *P. citri* every two days, based on preliminary tests to determine the minimum prey amount necessary to ensure male survival until the end of the experiments. 3) Honey: males were fed only commercial honey (Apinário Zumbi dos Palmares®; 70 kcal and 18 g of carbohydrates per 20 g portion, with negligible amounts of proteins, total fats, saturated fats, trans fats, dietary fiber, and sodium) at a 30% concentration, soaked in hydrophilic cotton. **Obt...,诸多昆虫物种均可产生具备营养功能的精液团，此类物质代表雄性对雌性生殖适合度的贡献。当前针对雄性贡献的量化研究，主要通过间接观察，以及结合交配后对雌性生殖表现（如寿命与繁殖力）的影响开展直接评估，但目前鲜有研究直接探讨雄性通过精荚（spermatophores）所传递的营养物质含量。在存在多次交配行为的昆虫物种中，雄性产生的精液团内分配物质的占比会随成虫日粮的改变而发生变化。本研究提出假设：当日粮条件改变时，孟氏隐唇瓢虫（Cryptolaemus montrouzieri）的精荚营养组成会出现显著差异，且该差异会对雌性的繁殖力与生育力产生影响。为验证该假设，我们采用比色法对宏量营养素（macronutrient）——蛋白质、脂质、糖类与糖原进行了含量分析，并对自由取食柑橘粉蚧（Planococcus citri）的成年雄性个体的上述宏量营养素的量化变化进行了检测。 本研究的试验种群由巴西伯南布哥联邦大学（Universidade Federal de Pernambuco，缩写UFPE）应用昆虫学实验室（Laboratório de Entomologia Aplicada，缩写LEA）建立。所有试虫均在25±1℃、相对湿度40±10%、光周期12小时的恒定环境条件下饲养。孟氏隐唇瓢虫的幼虫与成虫均以柑橘粉蚧（Planococcus citri，粉蚧科Pseudococcidae）的成虫为食。柑橘粉蚧种群饲养于实验室中，饵料为商用"小鳄鱼"牌南瓜（笋瓜Cucurbita moschata）。我们将孟氏隐唇瓢虫的末龄幼虫分离出来，单个放置于8cm×1.5cm的培养皿（Petri dish）中。待成虫羽化不足24小时时，对其进行性别鉴定并按性别分离，用于后续试验。 ### 成虫日粮 本试验所用雌性成虫均以柑橘粉蚧成虫为食，自由取食（ad libitum）。雄性成虫则接受三种不同的日粮处理：1. 自由取食组：雄性以柑橘粉蚧成虫为食，自由取食；2. 食物匮乏组：根据预实验确定的保证雄性存活至试验结束的最低猎物量，雄性每两天投喂2头柑橘粉蚧成虫；3. 蜂蜜组：……（原文此处内容存在截断） # 孟氏隐唇瓢虫精荚宏量营养素组成随雄性日粮变化而改变 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.vhhmgqp4c ## 数据与文件结构说明 **成虫日粮** 本试验所用雌性成虫均以柑橘粉蚧成虫为食，自由取食（ad libitum）。雄性成虫则接受三种不同的日粮处理：1. 自由取食组：雄性以柑橘粉蚧成虫为食，自由取食；2. 食物匮乏组：根据预实验确定的保证雄性存活至试验结束的最低猎物量，雄性每两天投喂2头柑橘粉蚧成虫；3. 蜂蜜组：雄性仅饲喂浓度为30%的商用蜂蜜（Apinário Zumbi dos Palmares®；每20g份量含70千卡热量与18g碳水化合物，蛋白质、总脂肪、饱和脂肪、反式脂肪、膳食纤维与钠含量可忽略不计），将蜂蜜浸润于亲水脱脂棉中。 注：原文部分内容存在截断，如"Obt..."等片段未完整呈现。