Journal of Insect Behavior (2004) 17, 337-352

Kathryn B. McNamara, Therésa M. Jones and Mark A. Elgar (2004)
Female reproductive status and mate choice in the hide beetle, Dermestes maculatus
Journal of Insect Behavior 17 (3), 337-352
Abstract: Models of mutual mate choice predict that when the costs of mating indiscriminately increase, so may the choosiness of the conventionally "non-choosy" sex. In a series of behavioral trials, we tested both male and female chemo-reception and mate choice in the hide beetle, Dermestes maculatus. Using olfactometer bioassays we found that males detected and responded more rapidly to individual mated females but had a limited ability to detect virgin females or discriminate between virgin and mated females when presented simultaneously. Both mated and virgin females were unable to detect the presence of virgin males. Copulation behaviors were comparable when males were presented with a virgin or mated female either individually or simultaneously. However, when presented simultaneously, virgin females had a higher probability of receiving a copulation than their mated counterparts. Our data show that males respond to variation in female reproductive status, but that female propensity to mate does not change. We suggest that mutual mate choice may be an important force, even in systems in which there is apparently strong selection for female mate discrimination.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Mark A. Elgar

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Dermestes maculatus