Sex, males, and hermaphrodites in the scale insect Icerya purchasi
Abstract
Androdioecy (the coexistence of males and hermaphrodites) is a rare mating system for which the evolutionary dynamics are poorly understood. Here we study the only presumed case of androdioecy in insects, found in the cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi . In this species, female-like hermaphrodites have been shown to produce sperm and self-fertilize. However, rare males are sometimes observed too. In a large population-genetic analysis, we show for the first time that although self-fertilization appears to be the primary mode of reproduction, rare outbreeding events between males and hermaphrodites do occur, and we thereby confirm androdioecy as the mating system of I. purchasi . Thus, this insect appears to have the colonization advantages of a selfing organism while also benefitting from periodic reintroduction of genetic variation through outbreeding with males.
Citation
Mongue , A , Michaelides , S , Coombe , O , Tena , A , Kim , D-S , Normark , B , Gardner , A , Hoddle , M & Ross , L 2021 , ' Sex, males, and hermaphrodites in the scale insect Icerya purchasi ' , Evolution , vol. Early View . https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14233
Publication
Evolution
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0014-3820Type
Journal article
Description
Funding: This work was supported by a number of fellowships, namely a University Research Fellowship from Royal Society of London (to AG) and a Junior Research Fellowship from Balliol College, Oxford to AG. Funding came from Independent Research Fellowships from Natural Environment Research Council (grant no. NE/K009524/1 to AG and NE/K009516/1 to LR), a Consolidator Grant from European Research Council (grant no. 771387 to AG), a European Research Countil Starting Grant (PGErepro to LR), and a Royal Society Newton fellowship (to LR).Collections
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