Mating Frequency and Fertility of Mediterranean Fruit Fly Females Alternately Mated with Normal and Irradiated Males12

Abstract

When female Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) initially mated with normal or irradiated (10 kr) males, were repeatedly allowed to remate up to 22 days of age with opposite types of males, 41.3% females remated with normal males and 26.7% remated with irradiated males. The effect of the 2nd mating on female fertility is independent of the time interval between the 1st and 2nd matings. Fertility of females alternately mated to both types of males increased by 68.2% when the last mating was with normal males and decreased by 43.4% when the last mating was with irradiated males. Fertility of females which did not remate within 7 days was only slightly affected when these females were caged for 2 weeks with males opposite to the type employed in the initial matings.