Behavioral Differentiation Between Two Species of Cactophilic Drosophila III. Oviposition Site Preference
Fogleman JC, Hackbarth KR, Heed WB. 1981. Behavioral Differentiation Between Two Species of Cactophilic Drosophila III. Oviposition Site Preference. The American Naturalist. 118(4):541-548
Oviposition site preferences of Drosophila nigrospiracula and D. mettleri were determined for cactus versus soaked-soil substrates, light versus dark areas, and upper versus lower position in an attempt to explain the behavioral basis for the separation of their larval niches. The results show that D. nigrospiracula females discriminate oviposition sites mainly on the basis of substrate type, while D. mettleri females use substrate type and position as the primary basis of their site preference. These conclusions are supported by field data.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Fogleman, James; Hackbarth, Kenneth; Heed, William
- Units
- ORPI
- Keywords
- fruitflies