Ability of Sterile Males to Inhibit Female Remating in the Melon Fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

This study investigated the ability of mass-reared, sterile males of a genetic sexing strain to inhibit remating by wild females in the melon fly Zeugodacus cucurbitae. Virgin wild females were initially mated to either virgin wild or sterile males, and then given the opportunity to remate with wild males at 1, 10, or 20 d after the initial mating. Two-way ANOVA revealed that both male type and time since initial mating significantly influenced female remating levels. Initial matings with wild males resulted in lower female remating than initial matings with sterile males. Female remating levels increased with time elapsed since the initial mating, regardless of whether the first mate was a wild or sterile male.