The development and genetics of digging behaviour in drosophila larvae

Abstract

Larval digging behaviour of Drosophila melanogaster and the sibling species Drosophila pavani and Drosophila gaucha differs quantitatively. Digging activity increases with age. Crosses between four strains of D. melanogaster indicate dominance and heterosis for digging; some non-allelic interaction is also suggested. Larval locomotion of a line with low digging behaviour is lower than that exhibited by larvae of a line with high digging behaviour. Larvae of the low digging line form puparia away from the medium, while those of the high digging line select places close to the substrate. However, larvae of a separate digger strain (the Oregon R-C strain) show similar locomotor behaviour to that of larvae of another non-digger strain (the vestigial strain). It is suggested that, besides locomotion, photoresponse of larvae may also influence the dispersal pattern within food. Dominance and heterosis towards high digging suggest possible evolutionary importance for this behaviour. © 1986 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.