Remating in the laboratory reflects rates of polyandry in the wild

Much of our understanding of female mating behaviour in insects comes from studies performed under controlled laboratory conditions, with Drosophila as the most commonly used model system. Laboratory studies of Drosophila have demonstrated a strong genetic basis to female remating rate. Because behaviour is strongly influenced by the environment, the heritability of remating rate in laboratory cultures does not necessarily reflect variation that is relevant to field conditions. In this study, we investigated the strength of the link between the behaviour of flies in laboratory and field. Wild-caught female Drosophila pseudoobscura that produced broods sired by multiple males had daughters that remated more rapidly in the laboratory. This suggests that laboratory experiments can successfully reflect differences between females’ mating behaviour in nature.

► We examine fruit fly mating in nature and that of their daughters in the laboratory.
► We find polyandry in nature correlates with faster remating by daughters in the lab.
► Hence lab studies capture important differences in mating behaviour seen in nature.
► This implies there is strong genetic control of female remating in the wild.