Modulation of mate guarding behavior in response to temperature in parthenium beetle

Abstract

Insects are ectothermic organisms in which most of the biochemical, physiological and behavioral processes may depend on thermal conditions of surrounding environments. Here, we anticipated that the pre-copulatory parameters and reproductive outputs may also depend on the temperature of different rearing conditions (i.e. 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C and 35°C). So, it was hypothesized that thermal conditions might play crucial role in modulation of mate guarding as well as reproductive outputs of Zygogramma bicolorata Pallister (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). In result, deaths of larval instars and pupa were observed along with underdeveloped adults at extreme thermal conditions (15°C and 35°C). On the other hand, maximum TCM was observed at 20°C and minimum at 25°C. But LP and MGD were maximum at 30°C and minimum at 20°C and 25°C respectively. Further, result showed increase level of reproductive output at 20°C. So, it can be concluded that temperature significantly influenced mate guarding and reproductive attributes.