Transgenerational effects of multiple mating in Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Polyandrous mating can result in sexual conflict and/or promote the evolution of mating patterns. Does multiple mating by females support the genetic benefits hypothesis and can it be validated as an evolutionary strategy? If we are to decipher the consequences of sexual interactions and understand the interplay of sexual conflict and multiple generational benefits, the transgenerational effects need to be followed over multiple generations. We investigated the effects of three mating patterns, single mating, repeated mating, and multiple mating, on parental Spodoptera litura copulation behavior, and then identified the impact on the development, survival, and fecundity of the F(1) and F(2) generations. Fecundity was not significantly affected in the F(1) generation but was substantially enhanced in the F(2) generation. There was a reversal of offspring fitness across the F(2) generations from the F(1) generations in progeny produced by multiple mating. In addition, the intrinsic rate of increase, finite rate of increase and net reproductive rate in the F(1) generation the multiple mating treatment was significantly lower than in the single mating treatment, but there was no apparent effect on the F(2) generation. Repeated mating had no significant effects on progeny fitness. We postulate that multiple mating imposes cross‐transgenerational effects and may ultimately influence multigenerational fitness in S. litura.