Thaindian News

London, May 22 (IANS) Female damselflies, which resemble dragonflies but have much narrower bodies, prefer “hot” males, says a new study.
The study found that hot male damselflies, who have warmed their bodies in the sun, are more attractive to their female counterparts.

Males of this species show elaborate courtship displays that involve high frequency wing-beats directed towards a potential female mate.

Michael Siva-Jothy, professor at the University of Sheffield and study co-author, said: “This research shows that female mating preference can change over a very short period: A male can become attractive when his territory is in the sunshine but become a wimp when his perch is in the shade.”

Previous studies suggest that a female’s choice of mate is based on aspects of a male’s courtship display, although it is unclear whether the courtship display varies between males or is influenced by environmental factors.

The research used two new technologies — thermographic imaging and high-speed digital videography — to assess the courtship rituals of the damselflies, a University of Sheffield release said.

The findings revealed that males that had basked in the sun had warmer bodies and were more attractive to the females. They were, therefore, more likely to copulate than colder males.

The study also discovered that females benefit from mating with warmer males as they have access to the warmest territories, which provides the perfect location for the females to lay their eggs.

The study was published in Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology.