Sexual behavior in ladybird beetles: Sex with lights on and a twist for Tenuisvalvae notata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The ladybird beetle Tenuisvalvae notata is an important predator of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae); however, little is known about its reproductive behavior. Thus, in order to improve methods of its rearing, this work studied several aspects regarding the sexual behavior of T. notata. We investigated its sexual activity period, age of the first copulation, mating frequency over 24 h, and oviposition during a 30-day interval. Sexual activity of T. notata is diurnal with peak between 1100 h and 1500 h. Males need about 4 days to first copulation, whereas females can mate at emergence. Adults mate 1.17 ± 0.16-1.91 ± 0.29 times over 24 h with an average duration of 84 ± 19.70 s (ranging from 27 to 130 s) per mating. Females produced an average of 54 ± 6.42-64 ± 7.08 offspring over 30 days. An ethogram was also constructed to depict the events that occurred during copulation as follows: the male mounts the female, inserts the aedeagus, touches its back with palps and mandibles, and attempts to hold it simultaneously. The female can walk while copulating or remains motionless; the male retracts its aedeagus and twists on the females' back before moving apart.