Male remating behavior and its effect on female reproductive fitness in Cnephasia jactatana walker (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Male remating behavior and its effect on the female reproductive fitness of a New Zealand leafroller, Cnephasia jactatana, were investigated in the laboratory. With a recovery period of at least 24 h between matings, most males were able to mate four times and only about 25{% could mate six times during their lifespan. Only 5% of males managed to mate twice within 1 day. Mated males transferred 31-51% smaller spermatophores than virgin males. When mating with a mated male, the female was subject to a 20-51% and 23-51% reduction in fecundity and fertility, respectively. With the increasing number of matings her partner had achieved before mating with her, the female's fertility declined significantly faster than fecundity. Courtship period and mating duration remained similar regardless of the male's mating history but males required increasingly longer latency to start courtship display with the increasing number of matings achieved.