Multiple mating in females is common in nature but may involve fitness costs. Adult females and males of the beetle Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting can mate multiple times. We studied the effect of mating frequency and mating pattern (time interval between matings) on female reproductive fitness by measuring fecundity, hatching probability, and female longevity. Fecundity and longevity were similar in single- and double-mated (two matings separated by a 7 d interval) females. However, two and three successive matings and three matings separated by two 7 d interval had a significant negative effect on the lifetime fecundity and longevity of females. Multiple mating had a positive effect on egg hatching, and two matings sufficed to fertilize the full egg load. These results indicate that the two matings separated by a 7 d interval are optimum for reproductive fitness in female P. versicolora. Suboptimal mating frequency (successive mating or an excessive number of matings) exacts a physiological cost that shortens the female life span and reduces fecundity.

中文翻译：

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柳叶甲虫（鞘翅目：蝶科）中的雌性交配频率和生殖适应性。

雌性多次交配在自然界很普遍，但可能会涉及健身费用。甲虫Plagiodera versicolora Laicharting的成年雌性和雄性可以多次交配。我们通过测量繁殖力，孵化率和雌性寿命研究了交配频率和交配方式（交配之间的时间间隔）对女性生殖健康的影响。单交和双交（两次交配间隔7 d）雌性的生殖力和寿命相似。然而，两个和三个连续的交配和两个两个7 d间隔分隔的三个交配对雌性的一生和繁殖寿命有明显的负面影响。多次交配对卵的孵化有积极作用，两个交配足以使全部卵负荷受精。这些结果表明，间隔7 d的两个交配最适合雌性斑节对虾的生殖适应。次佳的交配频率（成功的交配或过多的交配）会导致生理上的损失，从而缩短了女性的寿命并降低了生育能力。