Nutritional status affects copula duration in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Insecta Tephritidae)

We examined the influence of male and female nutritional status on mating behaviour in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Weidemann). Protein-deprived females mated with males of smaller average size than those chosen by protein-fed females, indicating a relaxation of selectivity in the usual mate preferences of this laboratory strain. The effect of female nutrition on copula duration was stronger than that of male nutrition, suggesting that females exert substantial control over copulation. When both males. and females were deprived of protein, copula duration for the first mating was prolonged. The interests of protein-deprived males may be served by mating for longer, due to their lesser ability to obtain further matings. The benefit to females of mating for longer when protein-deprived is less obvious, and may simply be due to a lesser ability to force the male to disengage. Another possibility is that females obtain a nutritional benefit from the male, in which case the longer copulations would represent a confluence of male and female interests.