Translation of mate choice (in animals)

Translation of mate choice (in animals)
 

Recently I was trying to translate a scientific paper to Spanish (as homework), and I came across the term 'mate choice', as in: 'Symbiotic bacterias influence mate choice in fruit flies'. Any suggestions on how to translate this? My dictionary does give the terms 'macho' and 'hembra', but what would you use as a general word for a sexual partner in animals?

Peter

Bacterias simibióticas ejercen influencia sobre la elección del sexo de la mosca de la fruta.

I'm not sure what is mate; the dictionary says both male and female, so I guess that can be 'sexo' in this sentence.

But wait for some mate (:D) with a better knowledge. :)

I think he means that the symbiotic bacteria have influence over the choice of which particular fruit fly of the opposite sex any fruit fly chooses as a mate. I don't think he means that the sex of the fruit fly is determined by the bacteria. :thinking:

"Pareja de apareamiento."

To mate = aparearse

agree with angélica
'Symbiotic bacterias influence mate choice in fruit flies'
Las bacterias simbióticas influyen en la elección de pareja en las moscas de la fruta
Saludos :D

Bearing in mind that time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana. :D

y que fumar mata lentamente, pero yo no tengo prisa :D