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Douglas W Tallamy - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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female choice by scent recognition in the spotted cucumber beetle
Ethology, 2006Co-Authors: Jeremy F Brodt, Douglas W TallamyAbstract:In species that demonstrate female choice, geographically distinct populations can vary in their signal-response behaviors as a result of environmental differences or genetic drift. Observing whether or not females discriminate against males from allopatric populations can establish such signal deviations. Here we compare mating success within and between populations of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) collected from Delaware, Tennessee, Missouri, and New Mexico, USA. A no-choice cross-mating experiment was employed to measure female preference for sympatric and allopatric males. While only two of the populations (Tennessee and Missouri) demonstrated statistically significant female preference for sympatric males, this trend was observed in all populations tested. Further, we show that (i) males from Tennessee, Missouri, and New Mexico differ in their scent, (ii) females may use population-specific scents to discriminate among males, and (iii) females whose antennae have been surgically removed are unable to recognize acceptable mates. New Mexico males, which were never accepted by either Tennessee or Missouri females, became acceptable mates when crowded with Tennessee or Missouri males prior to copulation. We infer that male odor may be an important factor in determining cucumber beetle mating success.
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Copulatory courtship signals male genetic quality in cucumber beetles
Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2003Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, John Pesek, Mark Burton Darlington, Bradford E PowellAbstract:In the spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), males court females during copulation by stroking them with their antennae. Stroking occurs exclusively during the first stages of copulation, after a male has penetrated a female's vaginal duct but before he is allowed access to her bursa copulatrix. Females accept the spermatophore of fast-stroking males and reject those of slow-stroking males by relaxing or constricting muscles distorting the vaginal duct. Here, we measure the repeatability of stroking behaviour within males, examine the effect of losing one antenna on male attractiveness and test whether such female control results in direct phenotypic benefits for the discriminating female or indirect genetic benefits that appear in her offspring. We also use a half-sibling design to quantify the variance and heritability of stroking speed and endurance. Female beetles were paired with a male that was known to stroke either quickly or slowly. No difference was found in the resulting fecundity or egg-hatching rate of the females, or in the survivorship, development rate, size, age at first reproduction or fecundity of their offspring indicating that no direct benefits are gained by discriminating among males on the basis of stroking speed. There were, however, good-genes benefits for the mates of fast-stroking males. Offspring of fast-stroking fathers were also fast strokers and were more likely to be accepted as mates than offspring of slow-stroking fathers. There was substantial variance among sires in stroking speed and endurance and the heritability of each trait was high. The antennal stroking rate was highly repeatable in successive mating attempts and males with only one antenna were not accepted as mates. The repeatability within males, variability between males and heritability between generations of copulatory stroking combine to provide females with a reliable and honest signal of the genetic quality of courting males.
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male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle coleoptera chrysomelidae
Behavioral Ecology, 2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed musculature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female's bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99% of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Copyright 2002.
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male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle coleoptera chrysomelidae
Behavioral Ecology, 2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed musculature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female’s bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99% of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Key words: copulatory courtship, cryptic female choice, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata, sexual selection. [Behav Ecol 13:511–518 (2002)]
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Male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae
2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed mus-culature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female’s bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99 % of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Key words: copulatory courtship, cryptic female choice, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata, sexua
Julie A Mcclafferty - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle coleoptera chrysomelidae
Behavioral Ecology, 2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed musculature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female's bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99% of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Copyright 2002.
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male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle coleoptera chrysomelidae
Behavioral Ecology, 2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed musculature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female’s bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99% of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Key words: copulatory courtship, cryptic female choice, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata, sexual selection. [Behav Ecol 13:511–518 (2002)]
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Male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae
2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed mus-culature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female’s bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99 % of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Key words: copulatory courtship, cryptic female choice, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata, sexua
Bradford E Powell - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Copulatory courtship signals male genetic quality in cucumber beetles
Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2003Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, John Pesek, Mark Burton Darlington, Bradford E PowellAbstract:In the spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), males court females during copulation by stroking them with their antennae. Stroking occurs exclusively during the first stages of copulation, after a male has penetrated a female's vaginal duct but before he is allowed access to her bursa copulatrix. Females accept the spermatophore of fast-stroking males and reject those of slow-stroking males by relaxing or constricting muscles distorting the vaginal duct. Here, we measure the repeatability of stroking behaviour within males, examine the effect of losing one antenna on male attractiveness and test whether such female control results in direct phenotypic benefits for the discriminating female or indirect genetic benefits that appear in her offspring. We also use a half-sibling design to quantify the variance and heritability of stroking speed and endurance. Female beetles were paired with a male that was known to stroke either quickly or slowly. No difference was found in the resulting fecundity or egg-hatching rate of the females, or in the survivorship, development rate, size, age at first reproduction or fecundity of their offspring indicating that no direct benefits are gained by discriminating among males on the basis of stroking speed. There were, however, good-genes benefits for the mates of fast-stroking males. Offspring of fast-stroking fathers were also fast strokers and were more likely to be accepted as mates than offspring of slow-stroking fathers. There was substantial variance among sires in stroking speed and endurance and the heritability of each trait was high. The antennal stroking rate was highly repeatable in successive mating attempts and males with only one antenna were not accepted as mates. The repeatability within males, variability between males and heritability between generations of copulatory stroking combine to provide females with a reliable and honest signal of the genetic quality of courting males.
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male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle coleoptera chrysomelidae
Behavioral Ecology, 2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed musculature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female's bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99% of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Copyright 2002.
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male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle coleoptera chrysomelidae
Behavioral Ecology, 2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed musculature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female’s bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99% of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Key words: copulatory courtship, cryptic female choice, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata, sexual selection. [Behav Ecol 13:511–518 (2002)]
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Male traits under cryptic female choice in the spotted cucumber beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae
2002Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, Bradford E Powell, Julie A McclaffertyAbstract:Males of the spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi) rhythmically stroke females with their antennae during copulation. Males that stroke quickly have a higher probability of being accepted as a mate. We determined (1) the mechanism by which females prevent unattractive males from passing spermatophores, (2) whether antennal stroking signals to females the likelihood of receiving a nuptial gift, and (3) if other male traits in addition to stroking are subjected to sexual selection from female preference. Dissections of pairs flash-frozen in copula during and after antennal stroking showed mus-culature that, when contracted, folded the vaginal duct leading to the female’s bursa copulatrix in a way that prevented complete penetration by the aedeagus. These muscles were always contracted while males were stroking and always relaxed after stroking had ceased. Males accepted as mates did not differ from males that failed to pass a spermatophore in either absolute or relative body weight, aedeagus length, or the amount of cucurbitacins (potential nuptial gifts) sequestered in their spermatophores. Although 99 % of the beetles that came to cucurbitacin-rich Cucurbita fruits in the field were males, males that had sequestered cucurbitacins did not stroke females faster than males with no cucurbitacins, and fast-stroking males were not more likely to find and sequester cucurbitacins than were males that stroked more slowly. Males with a cucurbitacin slurry painted on their antennae had no mating advantage over controls. We conclude that females discriminate among males after copulation has begun on the basis of antennal stroking displays (or some trait correlated with stroking speed) that males perform to entice females to relax their bursal sphincter. Key words: copulatory courtship, cryptic female choice, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata, sexua
Bonning, Bryony C. - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Nudivirus Sequences Identified from the Southern and Western Corn Rootworms (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
Iowa State University Digital Repository, 2021Co-Authors: Liu Sijun, Sappington, Thomas W., Coates, Brad S., Bonning, Bryony C.Abstract:Analysis of pooled genomic short read sequence data revealed the presence of nudivirus-derived sequences from U.S. populations of both southern corn rootworm (SCR, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi Barber) and western corn rootworm (WCR, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte). A near complete nudivirus genome sequence was assembled from sequence data for an SCR population with relatively high viral titers. A total of 147,179 bp was assembled from five contigs that collectively encode 109 putative open reading frames (ORFs) including 20 nudivirus core genes. In contrast, genome sequence recovery was incomplete for a second nudivirus from WCR, although sequences derived from this virus were present in three geographically dispersed populations. Only 48,989 bp were assembled with 48 putative ORFs including 13 core genes, representing about 20% of a typical nudivirus genome. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that both corn rootworm nudiviruses grouped with the third known nudivirus of beetles, Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus in the genus Alphanudivirus. On the basis of phylogenetic and additional analyses, we propose further taxonomic separation of nudiviruses within Alphanudivirus and Betanudivirus into two subfamilies and five genera. Identification of nudivirus-derived sequences from two species of corn rootworm highlights the diversity of viruses associated with these agricultural insect pests
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Diabrotica Undecimpunctata virus 2, a Novel Small RNA Virus Discovered from Southern Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi Barber (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2020Co-Authors: Liu Sijun, Valencia-jiménez Arnubio, Darlington Molly, Vélez, Ana M., Bonning, Bryony C.Abstract:The genome of Diabrotica Undecimpunctata virus 2 (DuV2), a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus identified from the southern corn root- worm transcriptome, comprises 5,313 nucleotides, including a short poly(A) tail. The two open reading frames encode a nonstructural polyprotein (p156) and a putative capsid protein (p25)
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Genome Sequence of a Small RNA Virus of the Southern Corn Rootworm, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi Barber (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln, 2020Co-Authors: Liu Sijun, Valencia-jiménez Arnubio, Darlington Molly, Vélez, Ana M., Bonning, Bryony C.Abstract:The genome sequence of a novel small RNA virus, tentatively named Diabrotica Undecimpunctata virus 1 (DuV1), was discovered from the transcriptome of the southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi Barber. DuV1 has a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome that encodes a single polyprotein of 3,401 amino acids with limited similarity to other viruses
Mark Burton Darlington - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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sexual selection in the spotted cucumber beetle DiabroticaUndecimpunctata Howardi coleoptera chrysomelidae
2006Co-Authors: Mark Burton DarlingtonAbstract:Abstract In the spotted cucumber beetle Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), the female determines the final outcome of mating; internal muscle control allows her the capability of blocking the transfer of sperm from the male. Males respond to this “cryptic female choice” by rhythmically stroking the female with their antennae in a distinctive pattern. The rate of this “antennation” is the best known predictor of a successful outcome for the mating, males that have a higher antennation rate are more likely to pass a spermatophore to the female. I examined a number of male traits testing for correlations with antennal stroking behavior, and found two significant results: (1) Antennation rates increased with higher levels of inbreeding, the opposite of expectation, and (2) males with fast antennal stroking rates had a greater propensity to fly rather than run in a simulated escape test. Subsequent fieldwork indicated a high proportion of the beetles that appeared in squash fields early in the season were “flyers”.
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Copulatory courtship signals male genetic quality in cucumber beetles
Proceedings of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2003Co-Authors: Douglas W Tallamy, John Pesek, Mark Burton Darlington, Bradford E PowellAbstract:In the spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica Undecimpunctata Howardi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), males court females during copulation by stroking them with their antennae. Stroking occurs exclusively during the first stages of copulation, after a male has penetrated a female's vaginal duct but before he is allowed access to her bursa copulatrix. Females accept the spermatophore of fast-stroking males and reject those of slow-stroking males by relaxing or constricting muscles distorting the vaginal duct. Here, we measure the repeatability of stroking behaviour within males, examine the effect of losing one antenna on male attractiveness and test whether such female control results in direct phenotypic benefits for the discriminating female or indirect genetic benefits that appear in her offspring. We also use a half-sibling design to quantify the variance and heritability of stroking speed and endurance. Female beetles were paired with a male that was known to stroke either quickly or slowly. No difference was found in the resulting fecundity or egg-hatching rate of the females, or in the survivorship, development rate, size, age at first reproduction or fecundity of their offspring indicating that no direct benefits are gained by discriminating among males on the basis of stroking speed. There were, however, good-genes benefits for the mates of fast-stroking males. Offspring of fast-stroking fathers were also fast strokers and were more likely to be accepted as mates than offspring of slow-stroking fathers. There was substantial variance among sires in stroking speed and endurance and the heritability of each trait was high. The antennal stroking rate was highly repeatable in successive mating attempts and males with only one antenna were not accepted as mates. The repeatability within males, variability between males and heritability between generations of copulatory stroking combine to provide females with a reliable and honest signal of the genetic quality of courting males.