VARIATION IN WEIGHT OF ALEOCHARA BILINEATA (COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE) IN RELATION TO HOST SIZE AND REPRODUCTION

Abstract

AbstractNo sexual dimorphism in weight was observed at emergence of adult Aleochara bilineata Gyll. (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). The weight of adults was strongly correlated with the size of the pupa in which the parasitoid developed. Newly emerged adults increased in weight after feeding, and this increase was greater in females than in males, reflecting the beginning of oogenesis. We showed that females invested simultaneously in reproduction and somatic functions the first day following mating. Although males and females showed no significant differences in weight at emergence, the females fed actively upon emergence and weighed significantly more than the males for 30 days after emergence. After that period, most of the eggs has been laid and both male and female weights were similar.