Mating behavior and reproductive success of Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae)

The common earwig Doru luteipes (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) is a generalist/omnivorous predator that can be easily reared and is commonly found in different agricultural crops. The attendance of males during rearing may represent a hindrance, due to longevity, food consumption, and use of other rearing-related resources. During Dermaptera mating, a ritual between males and females commonly occurs; however, this has not been reported for D. luteipes. We observed the D. luteipes mating ritual and evaluated the role that male attendance plays in the reproductive success of D. luteipes females and progeny generation. We used three simulations: i) a newly emerged female × a male for 24 h, ii) three males × the newly emerged female up until the first egg laying, and iii) three males × a female until death. Subsequently, only the female or female + male was isolated in plastic containers with an artificial diet and shelter for oviposition. There was difference among the simulations for the preoviposition period, percentage of nymph hatching, percentage of fertilized eggs, and period of care for inviable eggs. Female longevity was higher in the simulations that resulted in a lower nymph hatching rate, which can be attributed to the fact that the females spent less energy caring for newly hatched nymphs. Our results show that for females to lay fertile eggs, the presence of male is essential, and the choice of male by the female can directly affect the percentage of nymph hatching and the generation of offspring.

普通蠼螋（Doru luteipes，革翅目：蠼螋科）是一种广食性/杂食性捕食昆虫，易于人工饲养，且广泛分布于各类农田作物中。饲养过程中雄虫的陪伴可能会带来不利影响，这源于雄虫寿命较长、会消耗食物及其他饲养相关资源。革翅目昆虫交配时通常存在雌雄间的交配仪式，但目前尚无关于D. luteipes的相关报道。本研究观察了D. luteipes的交配仪式，并评估了雄虫陪伴对雌虫繁殖成功率及子代繁育的作用。本研究设置了三组实验处理：① 初羽化雌虫与单头雄虫共处24小时；② 3头雄虫与初羽化雌虫共处至其首次产卵；③ 3头雄虫与雌虫共处至其死亡。随后，将雌虫单独或雌虫与雄虫一同转移至带有人工饲料及产卵遮蔽物的塑料容器中进行产卵。三组实验处理在产卵前期、若虫孵化率、受精卵比例以及对未受精卵的抚育时长上均存在显著差异。在若虫孵化率较低的实验处理组中，雌虫寿命更长，这是因为雌虫用于抚育初孵若虫的能量消耗更少。本研究结果表明，雄虫的存在是雌虫产出受精卵的必要条件，且雌虫对雄虫的选择会直接影响若虫孵化率及子代繁育情况。