In this Hypothesis paper, entitled "Copulation Song in Drosophila: Do Females Sing to Change Male Ejaculate Allocation and Incite Postcopulatory Mate Choice?", DANDRITE researchers from the Philipsborn group discuss their discovery of female copulation song from earlier this year (https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15260-6).

Female fruitflies produce structured acoustic signals when they copulate, but the function of these is still a mystery. The female song depends on seminal fluid quality, and there is indication that males modulate the ejaculate they transfer to their mates when they hear female song. In the new article, the team speculates that female song is part of a sophisticated negotiation about reproductive investments between the sexes and can influence mate choice. Further, female song opens new insight into the fascinating biology of seminal fluid and its effect on the nervous system.

Read the full article by following this link: https://doi.org/10.1002/bies.202000109