Drosophila require both green and UV wavelengths for sun orientation but lack a time-compensated sun compass.

ABSTRACT: Celestial orientation and navigation are performed by many organisms in contexts as diverse as migration, nest finding and straight-line orientation. The vinegar fly, Drosophila melanogaster, performs menotaxis in response to celestial cues during tethered flight and can disperse more than 10 km under field conditions. However, we still do not understand how spectral components of celestial cues and pauses in flight impact heading direction in flies. To assess individual heading, we began by testing flies in a rotating tether arena using a single green LED as a stimulus. We found that flies robustly perform menotaxis and fly straight for at least 20 min. Flies maintain their preferred heading directions after experiencing a period of darkness or stopping flight, even up to 2 h, but reset t

SUBMITTER: Pae H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11529886 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature