Effects of delayed mating and male mating history on the reproductive potential of Leucoptera coffeella (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)

Abstract 1 Despite the importance of Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin‐Mèneville) in coffee production worldwide, there is a lack of information on its reproduction. This knowledge will help in mass rearing, and support the development of behavioural control techniques for this insect. The present study determined the effects of delayed mating and previous matings of male L. coffeella on fecundity, egg viability and frequency of female remating. 2 The highest levels of fecundity and egg viability were obtained from matings of 1–3‐day‐old females. When females mated at 5 days of age, there were reductions of 40% in oviposition and of 43% in egg viability. 3 Females mated with 2‐day‐old virgin males were more fecund than those mated with older males; egg viability was also low (18%) from females mated with older males. 4 Virgin females that mated with virgin males laid a greater number of eggs than those mated with previously copulated males. Egg viability decreased with the increase in the number of previous male matings. 5 Five‐day‐old females remated in greater proportion than 2–3‐day‐old females. Females that copulated with males that had previously mated three times had higher rates of remating than those that copulated with virgin males. 6 The results obtained indicate that 1–3 days after emergence is the optimum age for mating. The implications of these findings for the control of L. coffeella by synthetic sex pheromone are discussed.     

Male larval nutrition in Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): an important factor in reproductive success

This study examines how Choristoneura rosaceana male quality, as determined by larval diet, age and mating history, affects the reproductive success of both sexes. While the size of the spermatophore produced at first mating increased linearly with male age, the frequency of mating was significantly higher for middle-aged males (2–4 days old) than younger (0–2 days old) or older (6–8 days old) individuals, when both sexes were fed on artificial diet. However, the duration of copulation was longer in couples with older than younger males. The observed age-related changes in spermatophore size had no significant effect on female longevity, fecundity or fertility, suggesting no direct relationship between male investment and spermatophore size under these experimental conditions. Different larval food sources (artificial diet, maple and hazelnut) did not affect the proportion of 2-day-old virgin males that mated; however, the proportion that remated was significantly higher for males reared on high-quality food (maple and artificial diet) than those on hazelnut, a poorer food source. There was a 5-fold decline in spermatophore size between the first and second matings on all diets, but female reproductive output was reduced by only 25%. In contrast, while the first spermatophore produced by males on hazelnut was 1.5 times smaller than those produced on maple and artificial diet, the fecundity of their mates was 40% less than those mated with high-quality virgin males. These results provide additional support to the idea that spermatophore size is not a valuable indicator of male quality. Most tethered females placed in the field during the first flight period mated with virgin males (based on the size of the spermatophore), suggesting that female choice exists in this species. These results are discussed in relation to the incidence of polyandry in naturally occurring populations of Choristoneura and the potential use of size and/or chemical cues by females to assess male quality.     

Effects of mating rates on oviposition,sex ratio and longevity in a predatory mite <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoseiulus cucumeris</Emphasis> (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Two aspects of mating effects on the fecundity, sex ratio and longevity of Neoseiulus cucumeris (Acari: Phytoseiidae) were examined in laboratory experiments: (1) females mated by one, two or three different males (unmated and 3 days old) at 5-day intervals, and (2) females mated by males with different age/mating status (number of females mated previously by the male). Females allowed to mate with a second or third male at 5-day intervals produced 39 eggs on average, but those mated with a single male produced 28 eggs on average. Matings with additional males 5 or 10 days after the first male increased the duration of the oviposition period of these females by 5–7 days and at the same time reduced the post-oviposition period by about 10 days. Overall, females with additional matings by one or two different males at 5-day intervals survived a few days shorter than females without additional males. Mating with a different female each day, a male of N. cucumeris could mate with 5–8 females, which produced a total of 85–116 eggs: females mated with a male during days 1 and 2 in its adulthood and with a male of the last 2 days of life (days 7 and 8) produced about half as many eggs as females mated with a male during 3–6 days of its adulthood. Females mated with males that are too young or too old had a shorter oviposition period and a longer post-oviposition period and longevity than females mated with middle-aged males. In both experiments, rates of oviposition remained similar in females with high or low fecundity. This indicates that in both cases, the increased fecundity is due to the extension of the oviposition period through additional sperm supplied by the second male and or third male (in experiment 1) or more sperm by males not too young nor too old (experiment 2).     

Effect of age on reproductive attributes of an aphidophagous ladybird, Cheilomenes sexmaculata

The effect of both male and female age was investigated on certain reproductive attributes, viz. mating incidence, mating duration, fecundity, percent egg viability, ratio of reproductive and non‐reproductive periods and reproductive rate, of an aphidophagous ladybird, Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius). Females started mating at the age of 8 hours post‐emergence (PE) and males at the age of 2 days PE. Mating in the laboratory was a male‐dominated phenomenon. The mating duration and reproductive rate of 10‐day‐old females when mated with males of varying ages increased up to the male age of 60 days, and thereafter decreased, whereas, fecundity, egg viability and ratio of reproductive and non‐reproductive periods increased up to the male age of 50 days, and thereafter declined. However, when females of varying ages were mated with 10‐day‐old males, fecundity and reproductive rate increased up to 40 days of female age, respectively, then decreased. The ratio of reproductive and non‐reproductive periods increased with increasing age of females. Mating age for optimal reproductive output was 10J50‐day‐old males and NE to 40‐day‐old females. Reproductive cessation in males was recorded after 50 days PE, whereas in females at the age of 40 days PE. Higher mating durations lead to elevated reproductive rates. Delay in the reproductive phase was positively correlated with longevity. The results of this study may aid mass multiplication of this ladybird by identifying and promoting usage of adults of optimal age. Our results also enhance our understanding of the effect of age on reproductive attributes in ladybirds.     

Female Medflies Mate Selectively with Young Males but Gain No Apparent Fitness Benefits

Species in which female choice is not strongly shaped by male-controlled resources present a challenge to sexual selection research, because it is typically difficult to identify the male phenotypic cues used in female mate selection or the fitness benefits accruing from such selection. In such species, mate selection is presumably based on direct benefits associated with sperm quantity or quality and/or indirect benefits relating to the viability or mating probability of the progeny. Across animal taxa in general, male age has received considerable attention as a potential indicator of these fitness benefits, and the importance of male age in affecting female choice and fitness has been investigated in various insect species with highly variable results. The present study examined whether females of the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wied.), a lek-forming species, discriminate among potential mates on the basis of male age and whether this selectivity results in fitness benefits to the females. Both young (10 days old) and old (40 days old) females were offered males from two groups differing in age by 10, 20, or 30 days. Young females mated randomly when the age difference between the younger and older males was 10 days but mated preferentially with the younger males when the age difference was 20 or 30 days. Old females did not discriminate among males of different ages. Although young females showed mate selectivity, we found no differences in fecundity, fertility, or larval viability between young females mated to 10 versus 40 day old males.     

Reduction in the attraction of males to females after mating in the rice leaf bug Trigonotylus caelestialium

The influence of mating on the extent to which males are attracted to females in Trigonotylus caelestialium (Heteroptera: Miridae) was examined. No differences in attraction of males to mated and virgin females were observed within 3–5 h of mating, but males became less attracted to females 1 to 2 days after the first mating. The difference in male attraction to mated vs virgin females disappeared at 4 days after mating. These results indicate that reduced attraction of males to mated females occurs after a certain time interval, and persists for a few days. Furthermore, males were less attracted to females that had mated with virgin vs recently mated males, i.e. males that had just mated with another female at 1 and 2 days after mating. The ejaculate expenditure of recently mated males was less than that of virgin males. Hence, the amount of male ejaculate transferred to females during mating, rather than the act of mating, might influence the attraction of males to females. The results demonstrate that mating reduces the attraction of males to females in T. caelestialium on the basis of direct observation of male behavior.     

Male Age Affects Female Mate Preference and Reproductive Performance in the Cabbage Beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colaphellus bowringi</Emphasis>

The influence of male age on female mate preference and reproductive performance in the cabbage beetle, Colaphellus bowringi was examined, using male and female adults of varying ages (young, middle-aged and old) after a single mating. In a simultaneous choice test, females of all age class preferentially mated with middle-aged males. Mating duration was positively related to male age. Longevity of females was not significantly affected by male age. Young females paired to middle-aged males had significantly higher egg production than those paired to old males, and the eggs of females paired to middle-aged males exhibited significantly higher hatching success than the eggs of females mated to young or old males. These results suggest that middle-aged males are more advantageous for female fitness than young and old males.     

Age,Experience and Sex – Do Female Bulb Mites Prefer Young Mating Partners?

In species where advancing sire age is associated with decreased progeny fitness, female resistance to mating with old partners can be expected to evolve. In polyandrous species, such resistance may be contingent on female mating experience: virgins should be relatively indiscriminate to ensure egg fertility, whereas non‐virgins can be expected to base their re‐mating decisions on the age of their previous versus potential new partners, and ‘trade‐up’ if previously mated with old males. Here, we tested these predictions using a promiscuous and relatively long‐living bulb mite (Rhizoglyphus robini), in which old sire age is associated with decreased fecundity of daughters. In a fully factorial design, we applied two male treatments, young and old, and three female treatments, virgin, previously mated to an old male and previously mated to a young male. Consistent with earlier studies, we observed a reduced mating success of old males. However, we found no support for attributing this result to female discrimination, as female behavior in response to male mounting attempts was not affected by the age of the suitor, or by its interaction with the age of the female’s previous mate. Interestingly, females were passive during 93% of male mounting attempts observed, suggesting that once they are located by a male, they exert little control over copulation. Old males had lower mate‐searching activity and were less efficient in obtaining matings (lower success rate per mounting attempt), suggesting a decreased mate‐securing ability because of aging. Overall, our results suggest that in bulb mites, male ability to secure mates declines with age, whereas they do not support the prediction that females actively discriminate against old partners.     

Female mate choice and mating costs in the polyandrous butterflyPieris napi (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)

Males of the green-veined white butterfly (Pieris napi L.) transfer large ejaculates that represent on average 15% of their body mass when mating for a first time. Shortly after mating a male is able to transfer only a small ejaculate when mating a second time. Male ejaculate production plays a crucial role in the mating system ofP. napi because females use male-derived nutrients for egg production and somatic maintenance. Here we study how timing of female rematings and copulation duration are influenced by the mating history of their mates and, also, study if females exert mate choice to minimize their mating costs. Mating with a recently mated male increased female mating costs by increasing time in copula and mating frequency. Virgin females that mated with virgin males remated after an average of 6 days, whereas virgin females that mated with recently mated males remated after an average of 2 days. Moreover, copulations involving recently mated males lasted on average almost 7 h, whereas copulations involving virgin males lasted on average 2 h. Recently mated males were eager to remate, in spite of the fact that the size of the ejaculate they transfer is small and that they remain in copula for a long time. Hence it seems that males are more successful in the sexual conflict over mating decisions and that females do not minimize mating costs by choosing to mate preferentially with virgin males.     

Effects of sequential mating by males on reproductive output of the stinkbug predator, Podisus nigrispinus

Reproductive output of the stinkbug predator Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was investigated as a function of the number of matings that the male had made with a range of females. After being placed with a female, virgin males were most likely to mate within 12 hours, while non-virgin males were most likely to mate within 12–24 hours. Although males lost weight during their first mating, the weights of mated and unmated males were not significantly different throughout their lifetime. Longevity was significantly greater for unmated males (36.0 days) than for mated males (29.8 days). Survival curves for both mated and unmated males were Type II. The capacity of males to transfer sperm to virgin females was not affected by previous matings. From 65.7 to 76.4% of eggs were viable and 206.7 to 274.6 nymphs were produced per female. Regardless of the number of matings that the male had made, females that had mated only once exhausted their stored sperm progressively and produced an increasing proportion of infertile eggs, which peaked at the end of their lives. These results show that P. nigrispinus females need more than one mating to maintain fertility, but their performance is not affected by the number of previous matings that the male has made or by male weight. Thus, the strategy of pairing with males multiple times improved production efficiency by increasing output and reducing food waste in mass production systems. This is achieved by temporarily pairing females at intervals of about 20 days during their entire lifetime.     

Longevity and pheromone output in stored-product Bostrichidae

Information on longevity and on the effect of ageing on pheromone signalling in Bostrichidae infesting stored products is important because pheromones play a crucial role in mediating aggregation by the species in storages. The longevity of starved and unstarved Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) and Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) were determined at 28+/-1 degrees C, 65+/-2% RH and L12:D12 cycle. Additionally, the effects of ageing on rate of pheromone emission were investigated in R. dominica by comparing emission rates of the aggregation pheromones Dominicalure-1 (DL1) and Dominicalure-2 (DL2) released by adult males ranging from 4, 8, 12, 24 and 48 weeks of age. Mean survival time of starved male and female P. truncatus was 8.6+/-0.6 and 9.1+/-0.4 days, respectively. Starved R. dominica males lived for 5.7+/-0.2 days, and females for 4.7+/-0.1 days. However, mean survival times were not significantly different for starved males vs. females of either species. Mean survival time of unstarved male and female P. truncatus was 27.5+/-2.0 and 18.0+/-3.3 weeks, respectively, and for unstarved male and female R. dominica was 26.1+/-2.8 and 16.7+/-2.9 weeks, respectively. Difference in mean survival times of unstarved males vs. females in both P. truncatus and R. dominica were significant. Between species, no significant difference was observed in mean survival time between unstarved males of P. truncatus or R. dominica, nor between females of both species. Rate of pheromone emission in R. dominica was higher when the insects were relatively young (4, 8 and 12 weeks old), but declined by almost 55% in treatments where the insect were at about 24 or 48 weeks old, suggesting that recruitment potential of R. dominica might reduce substantially as the insects age.     

Influence of Adult Size on Mate Choice in the Solitary and Gregarious Parasitoids, Cotesia marginiventris and Cotesia flavipes

Female and male mate choice in relation to adult size were examined for the solitary and gregarious parasitoids, Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) and Cotesia flavipes Cameron, respectively. In addition, male precopulatory behaviors were observed for evidence of male competition or a large-male advantage in mate acquisition. Male parasitoids are not known to offer female mates direct benefits, but females that mate high quality males may obtain indirect benefits, such as offspring that are more successful in obtaining mates. Female choice experiments for C. marginiventris found that large males approached females first more frequently than small males, and that females mated large males significantly more often than small males. Male choice experiments for C. marginiventris did not demonstrate a male preference for female size. In contrast, female choice experiments with C. flavipes found that females mated equally with large or small males, while male choice experiments showed that males attempted copulation and mated more frequently with smaller females. Male competition was not observed in the gregarious species C. flavipes, but competition in this gregarious parasitoid could be moderated by dispersal.     

Effect of age at first mating on primary sex-ratio of the two-spotted spider mite

This paper determines the influence of initial age at mating on the primary sex-ratio of the two-spotted spider miteTetranychus urticae Koch. The specific question asked is whether females that mate at ages beyond ecdysis, or are inseminated at ecdysis by virgin males of set ages, have daughter productions different from control females mated at ecdysis by randomly aged males.Age of initial female mating did not effect survival. Females mated at ecdysis produced more daughters than those mated at age 5 or 10 days. However, daughter production was equal for all female treatments in the post-mating period. All treatments stopped producing daughters at approximately the same age, regardless of when mated. Son production was lowest for females mated at ecdysis. However, son production by females mated when 5 or 10 days old was lower than that of females mated at ecdysis.Male age at mating did not effect female survival. Females exposed to virgin males either 1 or 7 days old produced more daughters than those exposed to males either 11 or 20 days of age. However, a substantial proportion of females in these latter cohorts were not mated. If only mated females are considered, daughter production is the same between all cohorts.Delayed age at first mating influenced sex-ratio only via the females, specifically by changes in daughter production (as opposed to changes in survivorship). Daughters that would have been produced between ecdysis and mating were never recovered by females that mated at ages beyond ecdysis. Thus, these daughters were lost from a sex-ratio viewpoint. Initial age of male mating did not change sex-ratio.     

A paternity advantage for speedy males? Sperm precedence patterns and female re-mating frequencies in a sexually cannibalistic praying mantid

Scramble competition polygyny is expected when females and/or resources are widely dispersed and not easily monopolized by males, or when there is an abundance of mates during an extremely restricted reproductive period. Additional factors such as first male sperm precedence or low female re-mating rate might further explain the propensity of males to engage in scramble competition. The sexually cannibalistic praying mantid Pseudomantis albofimbriata exhibits a polygynous mating system, where females exist in low-density populations and male competition manifests as the race to find females rather than as direct physical fighting. Here, we aim to determine whether there is a paternity advantage for the first-male to mate and/or a low frequency of female re-mating. First, we determined sperm precedence patterns in P. albofimbriata using the sterile male technique. Second, we tested the likelihood of female re-mating in P. albofimbriata by comparing the close-range approach behaviour and frequency of successful mating attempts for males when paired with virgin as opposed to recently mated females, and by comparing the frequency of long-distance male attraction between virgin and mated females. We found no paternity advantage for the first male to mate, rather a second male advantage. Although mated females were not rejected by males when approached from close-range, they were chemically unattractive to males searching from a distance. Since initial mate attraction in many praying mantids, including P. albofimbriata, is mediated via long-distance chemical communication, we believe the latter result is more ecologically relevant and therefore more important. These results suggest that the relatively low frequency of female re-mating observed in P. albofimbriata may be an additional factor driving scramble competition in this system.     

Male age affects female mating preference but not fitness in the monandrous moth Dendrolimus punctatus Walker (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae)

It is widely accepted that male age can influence female mating preference and subsequent fitness consequences in many polyandrous species, yet this is seldom investigated in monandrous species. In the present study, we use the monandrous pine moth Dendrolimus punctatus to examine the effects of male age on female mating preference and future reproductive potential. In multiple male trials, when permitted free mating from an aggregation consisting of virgin males aged 0 (young), 2 (middle-aged) and 4 (old) days, virgin females preferentially mate with young and middle-aged males, although mating latency and mating duration are independent of male age. In single male trials, when virgin females are randomly assigned single virgin males of known age, a negative correlation is found between mating success and male age in this species. However, we find that male age also has no effect on mating latency and mating duration. Further fitness analysis reveals that females do not receive benefits in terms of oviposition period, total egg production, average daily egg production, percentage of egg hatching, longevity, expected reproduction and relative expected reproduction from mating with young and middle-aged males compared with mating with old males. The results of the present study are the first demonstrate that females mated preferentially with younger males but gain no apparent fitness benefits in a monandrous moth species.     

Male age and strain affect ejaculate quality in the Mexican fruit fly

Aging in all organisms is inevitable. Male age can have profound effects on mating success and female reproduction, yet relatively little is known on the effects of male age on different components of the ejaculate. Furthermore, in mass‐reared insects used for the Sterile Insect Technique, there are often behavioral differences between mass‐reared and wild males, while differences in the ejaculate have been less studied. The ejaculate in insects is composed mainly of sperm and accessory gland proteins. Here, we studied how male age and strain affected (i) protein quantity of testes and accessory glands, (ii) the biological activity of accessory gland products injected into females, (iii) sperm viability, and (iv) sperm quantity stored by females in wild and mass‐reared Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae). We found lower protein content in testes of old wild males and lower sperm viability in females mated with old wild males. Females stored more sperm when mated to young wild males than with young mass‐reared males. Accessory gland injections of old or young males did not inhibit female remating. Knowledge of how male age affects different ejaculate components will aid our understanding on investment of the ejaculate and possible postcopulatory consequences on female behavior.     

Mating‐induced ovulation in loggerhead sea turtles,Caretta caretta

Mating‐induced ovulation is common in mammals, but has been rarely described in other taxa. Observations of several mature female loggerhead sea turtles, Caretta caretta, held in captivity seemed to indicate that ovulation did not occur in the absence of a male. This study was designed to determine whether this was an effect of captivity or an effect of the absence of a male. Two mature female loggerheads were followed over six annual reproductive cycles. Ultrasound exams were performed approximately every 2 weeks to follow the development of follicles in the ovaries. During the first two seasons, no male was present, in the next two seasons, a mature male was present without mating, and in the final two seasons a mature male was present, mating with one or both females. When no male was present or when present without mating, ovarian follicles developed to full size, but ovulation did not occur and the follicles gradually began to decrease in diameter and undergo changes evident on ultrasound. In the fifth season, only one of the females mated, dropping two eggs after 7 days, and continued to oviposit throughout the following months (total 275 eggs). The unmated female did not ovulate, showing the same pattern as earlier seasons. In the final season, both females mated and ovulated, dropping eggs for the next four months (total 539 eggs). The following year, no males were present and neither female ovulated. This study provides clear evidence that ovulation in loggerhead sea turtles is induced by mating. Zoo Biol 27:213–225, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Male and female condition influence mating performance and sexual receptivity in two tropical fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) with contrasting life histories

Recent recognition of widespread polyandry in insects has generated considerable interest in understanding why females mate multiple times and in identifying factors that affect mating rate and inhibit female remating. However, little attention has been paid to understanding the question from both a female and male perspective, particularly with respect to factors that may simultaneously influence female remating rates. Here, we report on a study aimed at ascertaining the possible interactive effects that male and female size and diet, and female access to a host could have on mating latency, probability, and duration and female refractory period using two tropical fruit fly species with contrasting life histories. Of all factors tested, adult diet played the most significant role. Both Anastrepha ludens and Anastrepha obliqua males which had constant access to protein and sucrose mated more often, had shorter copulations and induced longer refractory periods in females than males fed a low quality diet (sucrose offered every third day). Female size and the interaction with male diet determined how quickly female A. ludens mated for the first time. Smaller females mated sooner with low quality fed males than with high quality fed males while there was no difference for large females, suggesting that male choice may be at play if high quality fed males discriminate against smaller females. Copulation duration also depended on both male and female nutritional condition, and the interaction between male diet and female size and diet. Large and high quality fed females had shorter copulations regardless of male condition. Importantly, for A. ludens, female refractory period depended on male size and the nutritional condition of both males and females, which could indicate that for this species, female receptivity does not depend only on the condition of the male ejaculate. For A. obliqua refractory period was associated with the interaction between male size and diet and male diet and host presence. We discuss our results in terms of male ability to inhibit female remating and the relative contribution of female condition to this behavior. We also address the importance of studying effects simultaneously on species with contrasting life histories.     

Males of the two-spotted spider mite attempt to copulate with mated females: effects of double mating on fitness of either sex

In Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae), when the intervals between first and second copulation are more than 24 h, only the first copulation is effective for females. Therefore, adult males should copulate only with virgin females, but not with females that copulated more than 1 day ago. Indeed, T. urticae males preferred virgin females to mated females under dual choice conditions. In the absence of virgin females, however, 60% of males copulated with mated females (n = 30). Therefore, the effects of male copulation behaviour on male and mated-female fitness were examined, respectively. Since T. urticae is arrhenotokous (i.e., only daughters have genes derived from their father), the proportion of females among the offspring was used as an index of male fitness. After males had lived with/without a mated female, the males were allowed to copulate with a virgin female. The proportion of females among the offspring did not differ between males with and without a female. On the other hand, when mated females lived with an adult male, their egg production was lower than mated females without a male. These results suggest that males do not seem to obtain fitness benefit from the copulation behaviour and that mated females incur a fitness cost due to the male behaviour.     

Silk‐ and volatile‐based male mate choice in the genital plug‐producing spider

Female mating history can have a strong effect on male fertilization success. Although males often prefer to mate with virgin females, they often also engage with mated females. As the intensity of sperm competition can differ among mated females, males are expected to evolve means to identify their status. In spiders, males often use female silk to gather information about female quality. Males of many spider species deposit mating plugs into female genitalia to hinder further copulations. We tested whether males of the foliage‐dwelling, plug‐producing spider Philodromus cespitum, which is an important natural enemy of pests, discriminate between females of different mating status and whether they can determine the extent of genital plugging in mated females solely on the basis of cues gained from deposited female silk. We presented males with draglines of females that varied in either mating status (virgin vs. mated), the extent of plugging (small vs. big plug), or the age of the plug (fresh vs. old plug) and examined their mate preferences. Additionally, we tested whether males were attracted to volatile cues produced by female bodies. Our experiments revealed that males preferred draglines of virgin females to those of mated females, and mated females with small plugs to those with large plugs. They were also attracted to female volatile cues. This study suggests that males are able to extract fine‐scale information on mating status from female draglines.