Males following a terminal investment strategy can fake their body odors to females, yet they cannot fake the odor of their microbiome

Terminal investment and dishonesty are likely the only strategies by which sick males in our study could attract females to reproduce. We show that immunocompromised male yellow mealworm beetles (Tenebrio molitor) employing a terminal investment strategy can fake their bodily sex pheromones to females, yet they cannot fake the fecal odor of their microbiome. The results of this study have important methodological recommendations for future studies in the field of terminal investment strategy, showing the need to consider the role of sex odors and signals produced by the microbiome.