biostudies-literatureBorne FCNRSEuropean Research CouncilÉcole Normale Supérieure Paris SaclayInstitute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Paris20210088https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8059496biostudies-literatureUnknown288(1947)Animals can be permanently attached to a substrate in terrestrial environments at certain stages of their development. Pupa adhesion has evolved multiple times in insects and is thought to maintain the animal in a place where it is not detectable by predators. Here, we investigate whether pupa adhesion in <i>Drosophila</i> can also protect the animal by preventing potential predators from detaching the pupa. We measured the adhesion of <i>Drosophila</i> species sampled from the same area and found that pupa adhesion varies among species, which can be explained by different glue production strategies. Then, we compared attached and manually detached pupae in both field and laboratory assays to investigate the role of pupa adhesion to prevent predation. First, we found that attached pupae reProceedings. Biological sciences<i>Drosophila</i> glue protects from predation.PMC8059496FP7/2007–2013 Grant Agreement no. 337579337579Prigent SRCourtier-Orgogozo VBorne FMolet Mfalse<i>Drosophila</i> glue protects from predation.Animals can be permanently attached to a substrate in terrestrial environments at certain stages of their development. Pupa adhesion has evolved multiple times in insects and is thought to maintain the animal in a place where it is not detectable by predators. Here, we investigate whether pupa adhesion in <i>Drosophila</i> can also protect the animal by preventing potential predators from detaching the pupa. We measured the adhesion of <i>Drosophila</i> species sampled from the same area and found that pupa adhesion varies among species, which can be explained by different glue production strategies. Then, we compared attached and manually detached pupae in both field and laboratory assays to investigate the role of pupa adhesion to prevent predation. First, we found that attached pupae re2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Mar2026-05-02T22:39:41.472Z2025-04-07T07:23:59.409ZS-EPMC80594963372659710.1098/rspb.2021.0088