Drosophila reared from the stinkhorn, Phallus impudicus, near Zurich, Switzerland

Abstract

Drosophila species were reared from, baited with and netted over sporophores of the fungal species Phallus impudicus. The presence and proportions of species varied between years, areas and methods. In the first year, 110 sporophores were used for breeding, and in the second year, 16 for baiting and subsequent breeding. 6417 specimens of 10 Drosophila species were obtained. Drosophila suhohscura was reported from England to breed in stinkhorn, but did not breed in or was even attracted to it in Switzerland, suggesting a remarkable geographical variation in breeding substrate utilization.