Learning about prospective mates in male fruit flies: effects of acceptance and rejection

► We examined effects of experience with a variety of relevant female categories on male fruit fly courtship behaviour. ► Conspecifically mated males subsequently showed reduced courtship towards heterospecific, but not conspecific, females. ► Males rejected by recently mated conspecific females showed no reduction in courtship towards heterospecific females. ► Males that mated with simulated mated females courted mated females more than males that mated with control virgin females. ► Our results indicate adaptive use of learning in fruit flies, which may contribute to enhanced lifetime mating success.