Analysis of truncated distributions: mating speed in Drosophila melanogaster.

The distribution of mating speeds in wild-type Drosophila melanogaster is shown to be log normal. The analysis of mating speeds by methods for truncated distributions is validated, and unbiased estimates of the mean mating speed, the variance of mating speed, and the proportion of flies capable of ever mating are produced. In pair matings, not all pairs are capable of copulating, given even a 7-day mating period.