Reproductive Behavior and Physiology of Dacus oleae1: Fecundity as Affected by Mating, Adult Diet and Artificial Rearing

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Abstract
Twice-mated Dacus oleae (Gmelin) females, reared on artificial diet (AD), produced in their lifespan 2.6 and 6.8 times more eggs compared to once-mated and virgins, respectively. Their egg laying rate was above 8 eggs/♀/day for a period twice as long as in once-mated females. Virgin females mated with males at their 10–12 mating, either sperm depleted through γ-sterilization or normals, showed no significant difference in total egg production. When such females were compared with females mated with virgin unsterilized males, their egg production was significantly less. Apparently, therefore, transfer of spermatozoa is not the key factor for the increase of egg production caused by mating, whereas repeated mating weakens the ability of males to stimulate oviposition. When virgin AD females were fed commercial sugar only, they produced ca. ½ the number of eggs produced by virgins fed the standard adult diet. Once-mated females reared on olives (OL) produced similar total numbers of eggs as once mated AD ones, although they survived 2.6 times longer. Egg production rate was 3–4 times higher in AD than OL females during the 1st month and 1–2 times higher thereafter. It seems that AD flies have been selected for high egg production during the 1st few weeks of life.

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