Mating Behavior and Sexual Selection in Monochamus saltuarius (Gebler)

Abstract

The Sakhalin pine sawyer Monochamus saltuarius (Gebler) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a new vector of pine wood nematode in China, which has caused huge economic losses in the forestry industry. The mating process of M. saltuarius has been described in detail. However, mate choice and sexual selection in this species are not fully understood. In this study, we quantitatively evaluated the characteristics associated with contact between the sexes in mating and inferred the sex-specific characteristics under selection. We detected positive correlations between the morphological characteristics of females and males. Most female traits and all male traits differed significantly between mated and unmated individuals. The results of this study provide evidence for the selection of the mating preferences in M. saltuarius.