Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster larvae are classified as herbivores and known to feed on non-carnivorous diet under normal conditions. However, when nutritionally challenged these larvae exhibit cannibalistic behaviour by consuming a diet composed of larger conspecifics. Herein, we report that cannibalism in Drosophila larvae is confined not only to scavenging on conspecifics that are larger in size, but also on their eggs. Moreover, such cannibalistic larvae develop as normally as those grown on standard cornmeal medium. When stressed, Drosophila melanogaster larvae can also consume a carnivorous diet derived from carcasses of organisms belonging to diverse taxonomic groups, including Musca domestica, Apis mellifera, and Lycosidae sp. While adults are ill-equipped to devour conspecific carcasses, they selectively oviposit on them and also consume damaged cadavers of conspecifics. Thus, our results suggest that nutritionally stressed Drosophila show distinct as well as unusual feeding behaviours that can be classified as detritivorous, cannibalistic and/or carnivorous.
Highlights
Unlike mammals, where the foetus develops in the mother’s womb, fertilized eggs of insects develop outside the female body[1]
For analysing cannibalism in Drosophila larvae under nutritional stress, we developed an assay in which eggs were provided as the only food source to foraging larvae reared on nutrition deficient media
We show that broad and flexible dietary patterns such as egg cannibalism and consumption of carnivorous and detritivorous diets from various sources may play a vital role in enhancing survival in a wide range of nutrient scarce habitats
Summary
Unlike mammals, where the foetus develops in the mother’s womb, fertilized eggs of insects develop outside the female body[1]. Larvae forage for nutrients in their vicinity and eventually find a favourable niche that contains an adequate supply of food. This phase of insect development is dedicated to feeding voraciously, and fulfils the much-needed food requirements for the subsequent non-feeding pupal phase. We report that Drosophila melanogaster larvae, when placed under nutritional stress, scavenge on larger conspecifics as reported previously[11] and become efficient egg predators. Our experiments suggest that carnivorous behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster is limited to feeding on its own kind, and includes consumption of cadavers from a variety of organisms www.nature.com/scientificreports/. Our data suggest that adult files are capable of sensing and evaluating the nutritional content in conspecific carcasses, and under starvation conditions are able to fulfil their nutritional needs from a wide array of sources
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