Pushing Flies

Effects of Drosophila melanogaster Female Size on male Mating Success

Turiegano, E., Monedero, I., Pita, M., Torroja, L., Canal, I. 2012. Effect of Drosophila melanogaster Female Size on Male Mating Success. J Insect Behav.  

This article examines the importance of female body size on mating success in Drosophila melanogaster. The authors first confirm that larger males do mate more rapidly and more frequently, but stress the importance of examining female size relative to males. Through observation and analysis, the authors were able to conclude that in a non-competitive environment, an increase in female size prolongs copulation latency (i.e. the time between introduction and initiation of copulation), specifically that larger differences in size between a male and a female causes an increase in copulation latency. Larger females were also found to display lengthened avoidance behaviour during courtship. In competitive environments, it was found that the first male to initiate courtship had a much higher probability of mating, and that an increase in female size reduces the likelihood of the larger male initiating courtship.  This study is significant because examines the importance of the relative size of both males and females in determining mating success, and leaves room for further research into this topic.

Effect of Drosophila melanogaster Female Size on Male Mating Success

Turiegano, E., Monedero, I., Pita, M., Torroja, L., & Canal, I. 2012. J Insect Behav.   

The authors examined the effect of female Drosophila melanogaster body size on mating success. Their results confirmed that larger males have a higher mating success. The authors also found that female size with respect to male size also affects mating success; previously the role of female size was unknown. The effect of female size on mating behaviour and dynamics appears to influence male courtship displays. Males show an increased time in courtship initiation towards larger females, larger females are the recipients of more wing vibrations, and larger females tend to avoid males for longer periods of time during courtship attempts. Large males are known to copulate more rapidly in non-competitive experiments. In addition, large males are favoured to initiate courtship in a competitive environment.The analysis of these behaviours confirms that the female is the most important in courtship opportunities and that both male and female body size is important for successful mating.

Annotated Bibliography

Turiegano E, Monedero I, Pita M, Torroja L, Canal I. 2012. Effect of Drosophila melanogaster Female Size on Male Mating Success. J Insect Behav.

This article considers the importance of female size when examining male mating success. Previous studies have revealed that larger males tend to have higher mating success, but did not take female size into account. The study confirmed that male size affects mating success, but stresses that this must always be considered relative to female size. Males show greater latency to courtship toward larger females, larger females receive more wing vibrations from males during courtship, and larger females move around more during courtship. The article discusses possible reasons for observed behaviours, and invites further study into the relation of female and male size variation toward mating behaviour.