Influence of Ocular Morphology on Mating Speed and Duration of Copulation in Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

The possible effects on the sexual behaviour of D. melanogaster of mutants in which sensory organs needed for mating are affected were studied. Four ocular mutants were used and two parameters of sexual behaviour were measured: mating speed and duration of copulation. A clear influence of the mutants was observed on mating speed but not on duration of copulation. The influence on mating speed was greater for the mutants with more severe morphological phenotypes.