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<p>Environmental stressors strongly influence reproductive success, with diet quality and heat stress directly affecting physiological condition and reproductive performance. The ladybird beetle, <i>Cheilomenes sexmaculata</i> exhibits color polymorphism, with typical and melanic morphs differing in ecological and physiological traits that may affect their responses to environmental challenges. Understanding how these morphs cope with stress is important for assessing the adaptive significance of polymorphism and its role in population persistence under changing environmental conditions. Sperm allocation is a key component of male reproductive investment, as alterations in sperm transfer under stressful conditions can directly affect fertilization success and population fitness. This study aimed to evaluate the independent effects of diet quality and heat-shock on reproductive behavior and sperm allocation patterns in two morphs (typical and melanic) of <i>C. sexmaculata</i>. In this study, the diet quality has been manipulated by rearing the beetles on two different diets, the most preferred prey, <i>Aphis craccivora</i>, and the least preferred prey, <i>Aphis nerii</i>. Heat-shock was given by exposing the adult males to sublethal temperature (45℃ for 5&#xa0;min). The results revealed a non-significant effect of both the diet quality and heat-shock on mating behavior and sperm allocation patterns of <i>C. sexmaculata</i>. It indicates that males maintain stable mating performance and sperm investment in a single mating event despite variation in diet quality and short-term heat stress. Such resilience is advantageous in natural habitats where prey availability and temperature vary frequently, potentially contributing to reproductive stability under the specific conditions tested.</p>

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Maintenance of male reproductive output under environmental stress: evidence from two morphs of Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月3日

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  • Priya Yadav,
  • Tripti Yadav,
  • Geetanjali Mishra,
  • Omkar

摘要

Environmental stressors strongly influence reproductive success, with diet quality and heat stress directly affecting physiological condition and reproductive performance. The ladybird beetle, Cheilomenes sexmaculata exhibits color polymorphism, with typical and melanic morphs differing in ecological and physiological traits that may affect their responses to environmental challenges. Understanding how these morphs cope with stress is important for assessing the adaptive significance of polymorphism and its role in population persistence under changing environmental conditions. Sperm allocation is a key component of male reproductive investment, as alterations in sperm transfer under stressful conditions can directly affect fertilization success and population fitness. This study aimed to evaluate the independent effects of diet quality and heat-shock on reproductive behavior and sperm allocation patterns in two morphs (typical and melanic) of C. sexmaculata. In this study, the diet quality has been manipulated by rearing the beetles on two different diets, the most preferred prey, Aphis craccivora, and the least preferred prey, Aphis nerii. Heat-shock was given by exposing the adult males to sublethal temperature (45℃ for 5 min). The results revealed a non-significant effect of both the diet quality and heat-shock on mating behavior and sperm allocation patterns of C. sexmaculata. It indicates that males maintain stable mating performance and sperm investment in a single mating event despite variation in diet quality and short-term heat stress. Such resilience is advantageous in natural habitats where prey availability and temperature vary frequently, potentially contributing to reproductive stability under the specific conditions tested.