Abstract
Aggression plays a crucial role in survival all across the animal kingdom. In this study, we investigate the aggressive behaviour of Drosophila suzukii, a known agricultural pest. Bioassays were performed between same sex pairs and the effect of environmental (food deprivation, sex, age and photophase) and social factors (non-social and social). Initially the inter-male and inter-female aggression was determined ethologically consisting of several behaviour patterns. Two hours starvation period increase locomotor activity of flies, promoting increased aggressive behaviour. Most of the behavioural patterns were common between males and females with a few sex-selective. Number of male encounters was higher in flies held in isolation than in those that had been reared with siblings whereas in case of females, only those that were isolated exhibited increased aggression. Females and males D. suzukii that were 4-day-old were more aggressive. In addition it is found that on the 3rd hour after the beginning of photophase, regardless of age, both males and females rise to high intensity aggression patterns.
Highlights
Aggression plays a crucial role in survival all across the animal kingdom
The present study examines the effect of social and environmental factors on aggressive behaviour of D. suzukii
Long term food deprivation was assumed to influence the aggression of flies in resource competition, but decreased the tendency to perform offensive actions, compared to short term effect of food (2 h) which increased the aggressive behaviour
Summary
Aggression plays a crucial role in survival all across the animal kingdom. In this study, we investigate the aggressive behaviour of Drosophila suzukii, a known agricultural pest. Aggressive behaviour in Drosophila species can be affected by environmental, social and genetic factors[1,3,4] For this reason factors such as sex, age, fight experience and cuticular hydrocarbons have been studied in detail for a number of species[1,5,6,7]. Aggressive behaviour has been reported for many different species[15] it has not been described yet for the spotted wing Drosophila, D. suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)[16] This pest has spread widely in North America, Asia and very recently in Europe[17]. Various behavioural patterns similar to D. melanogaster and D. simulans were analysed Environmental parameters, such as food deprivation, sex, age, photophase and social experience are examined and found that aggressive behaviour is affected by them
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