Reproductive Consequences of Male Arrival Order in the Bark Beetle, Ips grandicollis

摘要: For group-living animals the choice of whether to join aggregations or initiate their own is influenced by potential benefits such as group protection and reduced energetic expenditure, well costs competition for food mates. The bark beetle Ips grandicollis an invasive pest species that colonises recently felled timber in Australian pine (Pinus spp.) plantations. Male beetles colonies burrowing under trees emitting aggregation pheromone which attracts conspecifics, including a harem females with whom they mate. We predicted males initiated colonies, who arrived early, would have larger harems than later arrivals (due decreased females). However, we found opposite effect early-arriving actually associated fewer arriving males, although this may resulted from some leaving get older. conclude pioneering does not improve male likelihood attracting grandicollis, at least initially, but it provide advantages offspring when competing during development.