Time flies: Time of day and social environment affect cuticular hydrocarbon sexual displays in Drosophila serrata.

ABSTRACT: Recent work on Drosophila cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) challenges a historical assumption that CHCs in flies are largely invariant. Here, we examine the effect of time of day and social environment on a suite of sexually selected CHCs in Drosophila serrata. We demonstrate that males become more attractive to females during the time of day that flies are most active and when most matings occur, but females become less attractive to males during the same time of day. These opposing temporal changes may reflect differences in selection among the sexes. To evaluate the effect of social environment on male CHC attractiveness, we manipulated male opportunity for mating: male flies were housed either alone, with five females, with five males or with five males and five females. We found that mal

SUBMITTER: Gershman SN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4150315 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature