Fecundity of Female Oriental Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae): Effects of Methyl Eugenol-Fed and Multiple Mates

Females of the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), show a strong mating preference for males that have fed previously on methyl eugenol, a compound occurring naturally in various plant families. The current study compared fecundity and fertility (proportion of eggs hatching) of individual females mated to methyl eugenol-deprived males (control) or methyl eugenol-fed males (treated). Based on data collected over an 8-wk period, no differences were detected in female survival, fecundity, or fertility between females mated to control or treated males. In a second experiment, female remating frequency was monitored, and the fecundity of singly versus multiply mated females was compared. Approximately 50% of females remated over 8 wk, and multiple maters laid significantly more eggs than did single maters. Possible explanations for the female preference for methyl eugenol-fed males and the difference in fecundity observed between singly and multiply mated females are discussed.