Abstract

Latheticus oryzae Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a cosmopolitan secondary pest of stored products, yet it remains an understudied species. In this study we examined the courtship and mating sequence of L. oryzae, as well as the behavioral lateralization, exploring its influence on copulation success. Males of L. oryzae exhibited a left-biased tendency across various phases of mating (i.e., approach of the female, mounting, departure). The side of approach and departure significantly affected copulation success rates, in contrast to the mounting side. Left-biased L. oryzae males achieved higher mating success and demonstrated significantly shorter mate detection and copulation attempt durations compared to males of the other directions (back, front, and right). From a control perspective, the strong directional tendency of L. oryzae at the mating behavior may offer novel opportunities for pest management strategies that exploit lateralization-based disruptions. Overall, these findings establish the first comprehensive description of the mating procedure of L. oryzae and highlight the functional significance of behavioral asymmetries in the copulation success of stored-product pests.

Keywords

Long-headed flour beetle, copulation, lateralization, stored-product pest, tenebrionid

Fulltext

Where courtship leans left: Insights into the mating behavior of Latheticus oryzae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)