Bactrocera dorsalis males fed with methyl eugenol transfer less sperm

JAYANTHI, K ; ABRAHAM, SOLANA; THIMMAPA, R; REYES-HERNÁNDEZ, MARTHA; PÉREZ-STAPLE, DIANA

Tapachula

Simposio; 10th International Symposium of Fruit Flies of Economic Importance; 2018

Methyl Eugenol (ME) and protein have been used as post-teneral treatmentsin the Sterile Insect Technique, and it has been shown that they canincrease the sexual competitiveness of oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis)males. However, it is unknown if these treatments can alter the ejaculate and the male reproductive organs. During mating males transfer an ejaculate, which is composed of sperm and accessory gland products (AGPs). These compounds can influence the behavior of females after copulating with males, for example by sexually inhibiting females. We studied the effect of methyl eugenol ingestion with or without yeast hydrolysate (a source of protein) on male accessory glands, female remating, total body protein content, sperm transfer and male reproductive organ size.Conclusions:? The advantages of feeding with protein were greater than those feeding with ME.? Reproductive organ size did not increase with access to ME.? Female sexual receptivity was not inhibited after direct injections of accessory gland products of males fed with the different diets.? We found lower sperm storage in females mated with males fed ME.? We found higher protein content in males fed ME regardless of whether they had fed on protein or not.