Effects of forced copulations on female sexual attractiveness in fruit flies

Male fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) force-copulate with females during the females' short vulnerable period following eclosion. Although sexually immature at that time, the females produce viable progeny from forced copulations. While the females could gain fitness from remating with their chosen male when reaching sexual maturity, mating in female fruit flies is typically followed by a long period of reduced attractiveness and receptivity. To test whether forcibly mated females can overcome the typical effects of mating, we quantified the effects of consensual versus forced matings on female attractiveness and receptivity. Forcibly mated females were as attractive to males as same-age virgin females and more attractive than consensually mated females. The forcibly mated females, however, remated at lower frequencies than same-age virgin females but at higher frequencies than consensually mated females. Our results suggest an intriguing outcome of sexual conflict in which males can sire offspring with and reduce the receptivity of forcibly mated females, but these females can retain their attractiveness and partial receptivity to males.