SIGNALS AND RESPONSES OF FEMALES AND MALES IN SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL COURTSHIPS OF 3 HAWAIIAN LEK-MATING DROSOPHILA SPECIES

Drosophila planitibia, D. heteroneura and D. silvestris are the three most recently evolved species of the Hawaiian picture-winged D. planit ibia subgroup. Drosophila planitibia from Maul is the presumed ancesto r of the other two species, which occur partly sympatrically on the is land of Hawaii. Drosophila silvestris is split into two morphologicall y different populations. The behaviour of the flies of these species/p opulations in successful and unsuccessful courtships was investigated. The most crucial differences between species were found in female res ponses (standing and walking) to male circling and in male responses t o female standing and walking. Differences between D. silvestris strai ns were small compared with species differences. There were major diff erences between successful and unsuccessful matings in the response pa tterns most characteristic of different species. (C) 1995 The Associat ion for the Study of Animal Behaviour