Resource use by individual Drosophila suzukii reveals a flexible preference for oviposition into healthy fruits.

ABSTRACT: The invasive pest fruit fly Drosophila suzukii is thought to be a specialist on healthy, i.e. unwounded, non-fermenting fruits. Morphological (sharp ovipositor) and neurophysiological/behavioural adaptations have been suggested to contribute to distinct adult feeding (wounded/microbe-laden fruits) and reproductive (healthy fruits) sites. We tested whether (1) variation in the overall availability of fruits, (2) variation in fruit type (healthy, wounded, fermenting), and (3) the relative abundance of different fruit types are ecological determinants of D. suzukii egg-laying decisions. Even though individual flies reduced their reproductive output when resource availability (blueberries) was low, a significantly higher proportion of eggs was allocated to healthy fruits, relative to wounded a

SUBMITTER: Kienzle R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7035383 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature