Larval Reactions to Possible Resources in Three Species of Drosophila as Indicators of Ecological Diversity.

Abstract

Newly hatched larvae of Drosophila melanogaster Mg. and D. simulans Sturt. were attracted to and had very similar responses to acetic acid, ethyl acetate and lactic acid in the laboratory in Australia, while D. immigrans Sturt., in a different subgenus, was attracted less strongly. It is shown from a review of the literature that the ecology of the sibling species differs from that in D. immigrans by whatever criterion is selected, including larval responses, resources utilised, oviposition, nutritional requirements, temperatures tolerated and preferred, habitats occupied and parasitism. It is suggested that such comprehensive investigations at various taxonomic levels may provide information on evolutionary divergence in Drosophila, especially where larval studies can be incorporated.