Masters Theses

Date of Award

6-1984

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Entomology and Plant Pathology

Major Professor

Paris L. Lambdin

Committee Members

R.R. Gerhardt, C.D. Pless

Abstract

Regularly expressed fecundity occurred in always paired Podisus maculiventris females, and in those which had been paired for 48h, 96h, 144h, 192h. Virgin females did not display regularly expressed fecundity laying larger egg batches less frequently. Egg cluster size frequencies and modes were not significantly different among females which had copulated. There were no significant differences among the mean cumulative, or daily fecundity rates, for any females, indicating that fecundity was not affected by the amount of time they were paired with males. There was no peak or subsequent daily decline in fertility corresponding to the duration of the experimental period. Mean fertility of never paired females differed significantly from those paired. The mating system of females in this study was described as convenience polygamy.

The average life spans of always paired and virgin females were significantly different, however, increasing paired time from 48h - 192h did not contribute to reduced longevity. Longevity of mobility impaired females was not significantly different from that of non-impaired females.

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