INFLUENCE OF PREVIOUS SEXUAL EXPERIENCE AND POSTEMERGENCE REARING CONDITIONS ON THE MATING-BEHAVIOR OF CHRYSEIDA-BENNETTI

Experiments were carried out to study the possible effects of a (first ) sexual experience and prior rearing conditions on the subsequent sex ual behavior of Chryseida bennetti (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae), an ecto parasitoid of the bean weevil Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) (Coleopte ra: Bruchidae). A clear reduction in latency before male courtship was observed in experienced males. Multiple matings were performed both b y naive and experienced males. A tendency to reduce the post-mating co urtship behavior duration was observed in experienced males, although this reduction was not significant. Rearing conditions also seem to in fluence the mating behavior of this species: the number of copulations (with the same female) was reduced when males were reared in groups. On the contrary, isolated males performed multiple matings with both g rouped and isolated females, although they mated 3 times only with iso lated ones. Again, a reduction of the duration of the post-mating cour tship behavior was observed both in grouped males and grouped or isola ted females. It seems likely that males that have been reared in group s benefit from a certain influence of social experience that is reflec ted on their later sexual behavior.