Abstract
AbstractSocial insects often share their colony with individuals of different relatedness levels and life stages. When no reproductive depression is in place, a female must choose whether to stay with her natal group and possibly limit her reproductive potential or leave to establish a new colony. The factors governing and following this decision are still largely unknown. The date stone beetle Coccotrypes dactyliperda (Curculiondae) resides in galleries carved inside date seeds. Sibling mating is common in this species. While most females in a natal group stay and raise their offspring with their sisters, some females leave to start a colony of their own, regardless of resources’ availability within the natal group. In this study, we hypothesized that dispersing females should present physiological changes consistent with the anticipated challenges, including finding a host and egg laying, while the physiology of females that stay in the natal seed should demonstrate physiology related to cohabiting in an existing nest. To test our hypothesis, we examined the development of ovaries in ‘stayers’ and ‘dispersers’ females. In addition, we sequenced and analysed the transcriptome of pooled groups of ‘stayers’ and ‘dispersers’ sisters. Our physiological and transcriptomic results indicate that females who left the natal seed exhibit greater ovarian development. Our transcriptomic data revealed further differences between the two groups, including higher levels of expression of cuticle-related genes in the females that chose to stay in the natal nest. We discuss the possible roles of these genes in the continued life inside the natal nest.
Published Version
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