Data from: Male mate choice via cuticular hydrocarbon pheromones drives reproductive isolation between Drosophila species

Mate discrimination is a key mechanism restricting gene flow between
species. While studied extensively with respect to female mate choice,
mechanisms of male mate choice between species are far less studied. Thus,
we have little knowledge of the relative frequency, importance, or overall
contribution of male mate discrimination to reproductive isolation. In the
present study, we estimated the relative contributions of male and female
choice to reproductive isolation between Drosophila simulans and D.
sechellia, and show that male mate discrimination accounts for the
majority of the current isolation between these species. We further
demonstrate that males discriminate based on female cuticular hydrocarbon
pheromones, and collect evidence supporting the hypothesis that male mate
discrimination may alleviate the costs associated with heterospecific
courtship and mating. Our findings highlight the potentially significant
contribution of male mate choice to the formation of reproductive
isolating barriers, and thus the speciation process.