INFLUENCE OF MULTIPLE MATINGS ON FECUNDITY AND LONGEVITY OF FEMALE CABBAGE-LOOPER MOTHS (LEPIDOPTERA, NOCTUIDAE)

Comparisons of numbers of eggs laid and longevity of singly and multip ly mated females of ale cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), reve aled a positive relationship between the number of spermatophores rece ived by a female and her oviposition rate in eggs laid per day and her fecundity. Comparisons of numbers of eggs laid and longevity of femal es either once-mated to virgin males or once-mated to previously mated males revealed no relationship between male mating history and female oviposition rate, female lifetime fecundity, or female longevity, ind icating that multiple mating by males does not result in a decline in the quality of their contributions to females during mating. The possi ble benefits derived by females from multiple mating are discussed.