Fertilization of Two-Spotted Spider Mite Mothers Changes Sons

Abstract

We examined the hypothesis that sons of fertilized and unfertilized mothers of Tetranychus urticae Koch differ in some life history traits. Sons of fertilized and unfertilized mothers did not differ in developmental period regardless of mother’s presence during the juvenile phase. Moreover, dispersal capacity also did not differ between the two groups of males. However, sons of unfertilized mothers guarded immature females earlier than did sons of fertilized mothers, which should reflect the different probabilities of encountering mates.