Multiple Mating Potential in a Pteromalid Wasp Determined By Using an Insecticide Resistance Marker¹

A malathion-resistance gene was used as a marker to determine if multiple mating occurs in the haplo-diploid wasp, Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard). Results of bioassays of F₁ progeny of virgin females from a malathion-susceptible strain paired sequentially with susceptible and resistant males provided evidence that multiple mating can occur. Of 35 parent females tested in this manner, 14 produced a small number of resistant F₁ female progeny. Sperm from the initial mating was precedent and fertilized about 92% of the eggs in these females. When susceptible females were paired with susceptible males and allowed to parasitize weevils for 4 d prior to re-pairing, second matings with virgin resistant males did not occur. Male A. calandrae were polygynous and could successfully inseminate 10 virgin females within a 24-h period.