Female reproductive status and mate choice in the hide beetle, Dermestes maculatus

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 ..