Mate Guarding Behaviour in Response to Temperature in Parthenium Beetle <i>Zygogramma bicolorata</i> Pallister

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 copulatory parameters may also depends on different rearing conditions. So, it was hypothesized that developmental 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 developmental thermal conditions (15°C and 35°C). On the other hand, maximum time to commencement of mating (TCM) was observed at 20°C and minimum at 25°C. But latent period (LP) and mate guarding duration (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 developmental temperature significantly influenced mate guarding and reproductive attributes.