Prolonged Copulation in Dysdercus cingulatus (Red Cotton Stainer) as a Cause for Augmented Fecundity

Abstract

Cotton stainer, Dysdercus cingulatus is the common pest of cotton crops. Both the adults and nymphs are known to feed upon the cotton pods. In recent times it’s pest status has extended to almost all the crops, which illustrates that these insects have increased in number and also have acclimatized to the ever changing environment. This is an Hemipteran insect and it is known that males and females are known to be involved in prolonged copulation. In the present study, it was observed that the male and female adults were in state of extended copulation both in the field and also in the laboratory. This study has shown that the male and the females remain in copulatory mode for 3 days. This may be attributed to a male strategy to limit the female from mating another male and also a mechanism to improve and augment proliferation, and hence this may be a contributing factor causing an upsurge in the population of these insects.