Venerose: A nuptial gift with implications

Males transfer many components in seminal fluid along with sperm during mating. While sex peptide is well established as a key regulator of female reproductive behaviour and success, the roles of other seminal fluid components remain less understood. A new Drosophila study now reveals functions for a sexually transmitted sugar in providing nutritional value and acting on nutrient-sensing neurons in the brain to maximize reproductive success. Here, we highlight the key findings of this study and explore the potential role of this sugar in male quality assessment by females and in modulation of cryptic female choice.