Abstract
TwoDrosophila strains were compared with respect to the behavior of their larvae on food substrate: a wild-type strain (D) from the West Indies exhibited digging behavior, while a laboratory strain (S), bearing theebony mutation, remained on the surface. Chromosome transfers showed this difference to be due mainly to autosomes. There was a significant difference between the two strains in the proportions of larvae parasitized by a cynipid wasp. This was not due to theebony mutation or to other traits such as larval size, cuticle thickness, and speed of development. Chromosome transfers demonstrated a significant role of the three major chromosomes in the susceptibility to the parasite. A clear parallelism was found between the susceptibility to parasitization and the proportion of surface larvae. The depth of concealment of the larvae in the food matter appears to be a favorable behavioral strategy for escaping parasite attacks. The possible adaptive significance of genetic variations in larval behavior is discussed.
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Carton, Y., David, J.R. Relation between the genetic variability of digging behavior ofDrosophila larvae and their susceptibility to a parasitic wasp. Behav Genet 15, 143–154 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065895
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01065895