Egg Load in Wild Females of the Small White Pieris rapae crucivora (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in Relation to Mating Frequency Egg Load in Wild Females of the Small White Pieris rapae crucivora (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in Relation to Mating Frequency

Females of the small white Pieris rapae crucivora were caught in the wild and dissected to investigate whether the reproductive output is affected by the mating frequency. Mating frequency was determined by counting spermatophores in the bursa copulatrix. Monogamous old females loaded smaller mature eggs than young ones. Reproductive output was measured as the change in the number of mature eggs stored in the ovaries. Females oviposited in the morning and the vitellogenesis was active in the ovaries mainly at night. Polygamous females were estimated to lay 50 eggs daily but monogamous ones 40 eggs. Thus, mating frequency is seen to be important for reproductive output in females of the species.

Females of the small white Pieris rapae crucivora were caught in the wild and dissected to investigate whether the reproductive output is affected by the mating frequency. Mating frequency was determined by counting spermatophores in the bursa copulatrix. Monogamous old females loaded smaller mature eggs than young ones. Reproductive output was measured as the change in the number of mature eggs stored in the ovaries. Females oviposited in the morning and the vitellogenesis was active in the ovaries mainly at night. Polygamous females were estimated to lay 50 eggs daily but monogamous ones 40 eggs. Thus, mating frequency is seen to be important for reproductive output in females of the species.