Fruitflies Courting (IMAGE) University of East Anglia Caption Males that spend all their time reacting to their rivals die earlier and are less able to mate later in life according to new research from the University of East Anglia. Research reveals how fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) that are subjected to continual competition from mating rivals, mate for longer and produce more offspring in early life. But they pay a high price -- a shorter lifespan and reduced mating ability later in life. It is the first study to quantify the consequences of lifetime exposure to rivals. Researchers say that "trade-offs" between reproduction and lifespan are common across the whole animal kingdom, so in principle the findings could be applicable more generally. Credit University of East Anglia Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.