OVIPOSITION SITE SELECTION - UNRESPONSIVENESS OF DROSOPHILA TO CUES OF POTENTIAL THERMAL-STRESS

Larvae of Drosophila melanogaster; infest necrotic fruit, which the su n can heat to temperatures warm enough to kill or damage in-dwelling l arvae. This study examined whether Drosophila females could recognize and avoid ovipositing on necrotic fruit that had previously been heate d to lethal temperatures but was af moderate temperatures at the time of oviposition. Neither previous heating of necrotic fruit nor the pre sence of heat-billed larvae deterred oviposition. Females do not use e vidence of prior heating to avoid potential oviposition sites, and thu s apparently behave non-optimally with respect to temperature. (C) 199 7 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.