University of Sheffield researchers have established in a recent study that male fruit flies evolve to sing high-tempo songs when competing for the attention of females. The study, published in Animal Behaviour, recorded the lovesongs of the male of the species of fruit fly, Drosophila pseudoobscura.
The male of this species sings to the female and rapidly beats its wings at about 6,000 beats per second.
After observing the flies for eight years, the study concluded that males from populations where females could freely choose their mates displayed more endurance and power when singing as compared to monogamous sets. So the males did not solely evolve better singing skills but better strength as a whole.
