Abstract

Recognition of conspecifics and mates is based on a variety of sensory cues that are specific to the species, sex and social status of each individual. The courtship and mating activity of Drosophila melanogaster flies is thought to depend on the olfactory perception of a male-specific volatile pheromone, cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA), and the gustatory perception of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs), some of which are sexually dimorphic. Using two complementary sampling methods (headspace Solid Phase Micro-Extraction [SPME] and solvent extraction) coupled with GC-MS analysis, we measured the dispersion of pheromonal CHs in the air and on the substrate around the fly. We also followed the variations in CHs that were induced by social and sexual interactions. We found that all CHs present on the fly body were deposited as a thin layer on the substrate, whereas only a few of these molecules were also detected in the air. Moreover, social experience during early adult development and in mature flies strongly affected male volatile CHs but not cVA, whereas sexual interaction only had a moderate influence on dispersed CHs. Our study suggests that, in addition to their role as contact cues, CHs can influence fly behavior at a distance and that volatile, deposited and body pheromonal CHs participate in a three-step recognition of the chemical identity and social status of insects.

Highlights

  • The courtship behavior of Drosophila melanogaster has been the subject of intense investigation [1,2,3,4,5,6]

  • D. melanogaster flies are attracted by volatile compounds produced by decaying fruits [8,9,10], and this effect can synergize with that of cis-vaccenyl acetate [11], a male-specific compound transferred to the female during copulation and deposited into the food during oviposition [12,13]

  • Food scent marking has been frequently found in Hymenoptera [15] but rarely in Diptera: two species of Tephritidae males mark individual leaves that they defend as mating territories [16,17], whereas Drosophila grimshawi males deposit a long-lasting pheromone that attracts females to the lek and increases their receptivity [18,19]. cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA) contributes to Drosophila aggregation and could be involved in patch marking

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Summary

Introduction

The courtship behavior of Drosophila melanogaster has been the subject of intense investigation [1,2,3,4,5,6]. D. melanogaster flies are attracted by volatile compounds produced by decaying fruits [8,9,10], and this effect can synergize with that of cis-vaccenyl acetate (cVA) [11], a male-specific compound transferred to the female during copulation and deposited into the food during oviposition [12,13]. Other plant odors such as phenylacetic acid can activate a Drosophila-specific olfactory receptor (IR84a) that enhances male courtship ardor [14]. Because cVA is common to many Drosophila species found on the same host plants [24], adults may use additional cues to discriminate the appropriate sex partner

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