The role of acoustic signals in courtship behavior of Drosophila virilis

Abstract

The role of the male acoustic signal in courtship behavior in Drosophila virilis was studied by a video-typing method. Three series of the experiments were performed: tests with intact flies, with wingless males and intact females, and with intact males and females with the aristas removed. It was demonstrated that touching and licking were the most prolonged elements of the male courtship. It was noted that removal of the wings in males or aristas in females resulted in an increase in the duration of almost all elements of the courtship behavior (following, touching, licking, singing, and circling) and in a significant decrease in the portion of successful copulations. It was demonstrated that the courtship structure in the experiments with females without aristas changed to a greater extent than in tests with wingless males.