Effects on Egg Hatch of Alternate Matings of Female Boll Weevils with Apholate-Treated and Untreated Males123

Abstract

Virgin female boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, were mated alternately in various sequences to untreated males and to males sterilized with apholate. Results showed that when an equal number of matings with sterile and normal males occurred, both equally influenced overall egg hatch. The initial mating in the sequence had little effect on overall egg hatch, while the last mating prior to oviposition was most influential on subsequent egg viability. Only slight differences were noted between egg fertility from single and double matings, an indication that little additional sperm is transferred in the 2nd mating if it occurs within a few hours. The unlikely chance that numerous normal matings would occur during a sterile-male-release program when an overwhelming number of sterile males is present and the low percentage of viable eggs that actually develop into adults from combined matings with normal and sterile males should negate any adverse effects of alternate matings on the program.