Thirsty females

Research news:

Martin Edvardsson at Uppsala University, Sweden, tested the idea that females tap into this by keeping them on dry beans with or without access to water. Females living on beans alone accepted more matings, presumably to secure the water in the seminal fluid (Animal Behaviour, DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.07.018).

Edvardsson says that the energy used to produce the ejaculate, which makes up a whopping 10 per cent of a male's weight, is well spent. Once impregnated, females lose interest in sex - probably to avoid further injury from the male's spiny penis. They are more likely to mate again if they are thirsty.

He is talking about bean weevil beetles. No word on applicability to other species.