To estimate multiple mating in females in the field, moths of S. littoralis were light‐trapped in June, July, August, and September in 1997 and 1998 in the edge of farming land in Assiut (Egypt). Females were dissected for the spermatophores in their bursae. Virgin females represented 8.04%, whereas once‐mated and multiply‐mated females were 37.2% and 54.76% of the trapped females, respectively. The average number of matings per trapped female (1.68±0.05) was significantly lower than that of laboratory‐reared females (2.48±0.11). As the number of captured males declined from June to September, there was a significant shift towards remating in the captured females. Laboratory mating experiments were performed with reared females that were daily supplied with males of different mating histories, including virgin males (V) or males that had previously mated once (PM1), twice (PM2), or three times (PM3). Females supplied with virgin males exhibited significantly lower numbers of matings acquired during a 5‐day experiment than females supplied with previously mated males. There was also a highly significant association between the frequency of mating among females and the mating history of males involved. Females supplied with previously mated males showed a higher propensity to remate than those supplied with virgin males. Significant increase of the reproductive capacity of females was associated with virginity (versus non‐virginity) of males or multiple mating (versus single mating) by females. Females paired with V or PM1 males exhibited shorter longevity and higher rates of egg laying than those paired with PM2 and PM3 males. The results suggest that females are able to assess the male mating status and, accordingly, alter their mating behavior to achieve higher reproductive capacity.