Influence of Female Age on Variation of Mate Choice Behavior in Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract

In spite of the fact that studies concerning the mate choice by females have largely been based on the idea of the unanimity of the preference for certain male characteristics, variations in this behavior have been reported. Considering this aspect, we studied the influence of female age on mate choice and on the acceptance of courting by males of different ages in lab-reared medflies. The effects of the age of both sexes on the total courtship duration and on the behavioral units performed by males were also examined. Our results demonstrated that: (1) 4 to 12 day-old females prefer younger males; (2) 20 day-old females were less selective; (3) the acceptance of courting was not influenced by male age neither by the duration of behavioral units of courtship; (4) only the duration of continuous wing vibration was affected by the age of both sexes.