Aging and frequency-dependent mating in Drosophila.

Frequency-dependent mating behavior has been observed in Drosophila pseudoobcura, but most experiments have used only 4-day-old virgin flies. One report has indicated that rare-male behavior may be affected by age. Males and females of the Arrowhead strain along with rare orange-eyed males were used in the present study to confirm that frequency-dependent mating behavior is operating with 4-day-old females but is absent by 11 days. The same situation is also observed when Chricahua males and females are used along with rare Arrowhead males.