Abstract
In the present study we tested whether long-winged (macropterous) and short-winged (brachypterous) adult females of the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) differ in their reproductive capacity and length of life. The following seven physiological markers were measured in these females: lengths of the pre-oviposition period (pre-OP), inter-ovipositon period (inter-OP) and post-oviposition period (post-OP), and the mean number of eggs per batch, total number of eggs, mean total number of egg batches laid and lifespan of the females. The results showed that macropterous and brachypterous females significantly differed in the length of the pre-OP, which was significantly shorter in brachypterous (7.95 ± 1.75 days) than in macropterous females (26.84 ± 9.86 days), but there was no significant difference between the lengths of the inter-OP in brachypterous (4.00-8.79 days) and macropterous (3.00-9.89 days) females. In contrast the length of the post-OP was significantly longer in brachypterous (48.23 ± 30.95 days) than in macropterous females (35.02 ± 17.32 days). Except for the 2nd and 3rd egg batches there was no significant difference between the average numbers of eggs in the other egg batches laid by females of the two wing morphs. Total number of eggs laid by macropterous females during their whole lifespan was not significantly lower (326.47 ± 155.65 eggs) than by brachypterous females (382.82 ± 207.52 eggs), but associated with the lower number of egg batches laid by macropterous (13) than by brachypterous females (19). However, there was no significant difference in the longevity of brachypterous (95.43 ± 41.21 days) and macropterous (93.40 ± 21.18 days) females. The relationship of these results to the reproductive arrest, inactivity of the endocrine gland, corpus allatum, and different levels of adipokinetic hormone in macropterous females is discussed.
Highlights
The firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) is a palaearctic species belonging to the family Pyrrhocoridae (Heteroptera) with a core distribution in the Mediterranean area and eastern and central Asia
The results show that brachypterous and macropterous adult females substantially differed in the length of their pre-oviposition period (pre-OP) (Table 1)
The results show that the postponed oviposition in macropterous females did not influence the interval between consecutive egg batches
Summary
The firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus (L.) is a palaearctic species belonging to the family Pyrrhocoridae (Heteroptera) with a core distribution in the Mediterranean area and eastern and central Asia. This was demonstrated by measuring the volume and activity of the corpus allatum (CA), the source of this hormone (Hodková & Socha, 2006; Socha & Hodková, 2006), allatectomy or treating adults with an active juvenile hormone analogue (JHa) – methoprene (Socha et al, 1991, Socha, 2007) This finding indicates that the JH titre in 1–14 day old macropterous adults that are characteristically in reproductive arrest must be below the threshold needed for stimulating egg production in females and growth of accessory glands in males. Decrease in the AKH titre in the CNS and haemolymph in macropterous adults older than 14 days is associated with resumption of food consumption (Socha & Zemek, 2007), followed by full reactivation of the CA (Hodková & Socha, 2006) and subsequent flight muscles histolysis
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