A recent study discovered that older males are better at attracting females of the same species. However, they don’t mate with them as often as younger rivals.

The study wasn’t about humans, though.

Older males are more efficient in attracting females

Scientists discovered that mature male crickets are more successful with females, though they weren’t having sex with them as much as younger ‘guys’.

A recent study conducted by the team of the Exeter University researchers was based on ten years of video observations of the entire cricket population at one of wild Spanish meadows.

The report was published by the Animal Behavior.

The academics set to establish what impact a male’s age had on love life of the insects.

The team discovered that although younger males weren’t as effective in luring females, upon succeeding in that endeavor youngsters had a lot of love making, compared to the mature counterparts.

No sex for old males?

Dr Rolando Rodríguez-Muñoz, who works for the Centre for Ecology and Conservation of the Exeter University, explains, “Females instinctively choose males with genetic code beneficial for the next generation of crickets. The reason that older males might have better genes is that their age proves their ability to longevity. Nevertheless, not all females are like that, some of them still prefer younger brothers of mature crickets. Their active and healthy sperm might be less exposed to mutations that can be transmitted by heredity.”

“The outcomes of our investigation show quite a diverse picture, where senior males have more success at partnering up, but younger ones exceed them in mating.”

The research proved the idea that pairing as well as mating both are important for fruitful reproduction.

Experiments showed that there is no connection between the number of descendants and the age of male parent.

Dr Rolando Rodríguez-Muñoz explains, “Females instinctively choose males with genetic code beneficial for the next generation of crickets”.

Older males are viewed as more successful in life?

In a way, a cricket’s success in life may be his age: How long did he manage to survive? Is this what attracts lady-crickets?

Professor Tom Tregenza comments on this finding by saying that age of a male cricket seems to be a poor marker of his potential as a mate.

“Our conclusions are based on opposing effects of different age groups of males on their achievements in mating and pairing with female crickets”, continues Mr. Tregenza.

The females’ strategy to pair with long living males can be only partially justified.  Such strategy cannot be entirely effective since many young males have good chances to become long-livers and even exceed the age of those who were born a bit earlier and now are considered as seniors. The life span of crickets is only a few weeks, anyway.

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