RECEPTIVITY AND SEXUAL-MATURATION OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER FEMALES IN RELATION TO HYBRIDIZATION WITH DROSOPHILA-SIMULANS MALES - A POPULATIONAL ANALYSIS

Females from a wild population of Drosophila melanogaster were examined for the their frequency of hybridization with D. simulans males using no-choice tests, and for receptivity and sexual maturation speed using conspecific males. Genetic variability within the population was revealed for the three traits, and significant positive correlations between them were found. Females that matured earlier had greater receptivity indicating a common physiological basis for both characteristics. Notably, high female receptivity was correlated with high tendency to hybridize with D. simulans males. The involvement of female receptivity in both sexual isolation and sexual selection processes are discussed. © 1991 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.