Drosophila females receive male substrate-borne signals through specific leg neurons during courtship.

ABSTRACT: Substrate-borne vibratory signals are thought to be one of the most ancient and taxonomically widespread communication signals among animal species, including Drosophila flies.^1-9 During courtship, the male Drosophila abdomen tremulates (as defined in Busnel et al.¹⁰) to generate vibrations in the courting substrate.^8,9 These vibrations coincide with nearby females becoming immobile, a behavior that facilitates mounting and copulation.^8,11-13 It was unknown how the Drosophila female detects these substrate-borne vibratory signals. Here, we confirm that the immobility response of the female to the tremulations is not dependent on any air-borne cue. We show that substrate-borne communication is used by wi

SUBMITTER: McKelvey EGZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8445324 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature