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1 November 2000 Effects of Multiple Mating on Female Reproductive Output in the Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)
M. H. Hsu, W. J. Wu
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Abstract

Multiple mating behavior of female cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), was confirmed in this study, and its effects on fecundity and fertility were investigated as well. The number of fertile eggs produced by mated females was close to nil within 7 d after removal of males, but it was resumed when females were exposed to males again on day 7. Multiple-mated females displayed significantly higher fecundity (400.3 eggs per female) and fertility (182.8 viable eggs per female) than single-mated females (61.7 and 19.0, respectively) in the 24-d period, suggesting that multiple mating by females is an advantageous strategy for cat fleas. The duration of first mating averaged 63.1 min. The high ratio (55.56%) and short duration (34.0 min) of impotent mating suggested that cryptic female choice may be involved during copulation.

M. H. Hsu and W. J. Wu "Effects of Multiple Mating on Female Reproductive Output in the Cat Flea (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)," Journal of Medical Entomology 37(6), 828-834, (1 November 2000). https://doi.org/10.1603/0022-2585-37.6.828
Received: 17 December 1999; Accepted: 1 June 2000; Published: 1 November 2000
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KEYWORDS
cat flea
Ctenocephalides felis
fecundity
fertility
multiple mating
reproduction
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