Mating prior to overwintering in the imported willow leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Abstract

Abstract. 1. We report on the mating status of overwintering adults of the imported leaf beetle, Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting. This species overwinters as adults, under the bark of willow trees.2. Individuals were collected both in the autumn, just after initiation of diapause, and in the spring, just before natural termination of diapause. From the autumn sample, we discovered that diapause can be terminated by husbanding the adults at 4°C for 4 weeks.3. Most females lay fertile eggs upon the termination of diapause; however, a significant number of females lay non‐fertile eggs after overwintering in the field.4. Many females mate with more than one male before entering diapause. Progeny analysis using allozyme genetic markers shows that, on average, females who are fertile upon termination of diapause utilize sperm from 1.2 males to fertilize their eggs.