biostudies-literatureUnknown14(11)Shavrova AJOur understanding of sexual selection is advancing with new technologies that tag individuals or their sperm, revealing how females use post-copulatory processes to discriminate between competing mates. Many tagging methods have been devised primarily for model insect organisms like <i>Drosophila</i> or Gryllidae. Developing such novel methods, however, is expensive and requires intensive investment. In this experiment, we trial the use of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Rhodamine 110 (Rh110) in a small arachnid, the bulb mite <i>Rhizoglyphus echinopus</i>, for pre- and post-copulatory observations as it is a relatively inexpensive and simple way to tag individuals and their ejaculate proteins. First, we tested whether RhB and Rh110 applied to food can be used as a tagging method to track and distinEcology and evolutione70525https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11537705biostudies-literatureUsing Rhodamine to Tag Mites for Studies of Pre- and Post-Copulatory Sexual Selection.PMC11537705Buzatto BAKasumovic MMShavrova AJfalseUsing Rhodamine to Tag Mites for Studies of Pre- and Post-Copulatory Sexual Selection.Our understanding of sexual selection is advancing with new technologies that tag individuals or their sperm, revealing how females use post-copulatory processes to discriminate between competing mates. Many tagging methods have been devised primarily for model insect organisms like <i>Drosophila</i> or Gryllidae. Developing such novel methods, however, is expensive and requires intensive investment. In this experiment, we trial the use of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Rhodamine 110 (Rh110) in a small arachnid, the bulb mite <i>Rhizoglyphus echinopus</i>, for pre- and post-copulatory observations as it is a relatively inexpensive and simple way to tag individuals and their ejaculate proteins. First, we tested whether RhB and Rh110 applied to food can be used as a tagging method to track and distin2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Nov2025-04-04T02:12:38.917Z2025-04-04T02:12:38.917ZS-EPMC115377053950246110.1002/ece3.70525