Air pollution hindering mating of fruit flies by reducing output of male scent

Two male fruit flies attempting to copulate – another result of pollution causing males to smell less like males. Photograph: Sofia Quaglia/Benjamin Fabian

Air pollution is making it harder for fruit flies to mate because females cannot easily recognise a male’s scent, a study has found.

Female fruit flies select their mates for reproduction through the scent of their pheromones, but ozone pollution can disrupt the male’s ability to emit their characteristic odour, researchers have found. This means contaminated air can pose a threat to how successfully fruit flies and other insects reproduce, and could lead to population decline.