Effect of Aging on the Mating Competitiveness of Irradiated Male Greater Wax Moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract
Young adult Galleria mellonella (L.) males were exposed to either 0 or 20 rad of ionizing irradiation. Treated males competed with normal males for virgin females at 1, 8, and 15 days of age. Mating competitiveness decreased as irradiated males aged. A vigor-loss hypothesis is proposed. Additionally, an improved technique for obtaining substantial numbers of virgin adults is described.

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