Characterization of courtship behavior and copulation rate in adp⁶⁰ mutant Drosophila melanogaster (Insecta: Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Abstract

Many metabolic consequences of the excess lipid storage observed in obesity have been documented in humans and mammals, but the effects of an obese phenotype on reproductive behavior are less understood. Drosophila melanogaster (Meigan, 1830) is well suited to study the ramifications of excess energy storage as they are commonly used to explore the genes important for energy utilization. However, little is known about the reproductive behavior of mutants in these metabolic genes. Therefore, we tested, for the first time, courtship of the naturally occurring adipose (adp 60 ) mutation which accumulates excess triglycerides and glycogen. Adipose mutants showed decreased courtship behaviors as well as copulation rate. The decrease in copulation rate could in part be explained by the decrease in courtship behaviors such as wing scissoring and wing vibration. Taken together, the data presented here suggest that the adp 60 mutants may negatively affect male fly reproductive behavior and provide a system to further our understanding of the genetic and metabolic control of reproductive behaviors and reproductive potential.

The modulatory effects of biogenic amines on male mating performance in Bactrocera dorsalis

“…On the 13th day post emergence, to observe their mating processes, 10 females and 10 males were randomly selected and put together into a cylindrical transparent box (diameter: 10 cm; height: 25 cm) with a constant diet supply, and the mating process was monitored as previously indicated ( Lone et al, 2015 ). When we observed copulation between male and female lasting for at least 10 min, this couple was considered as successful mating ( Bougleux Gomes et al, 2019 ). Each mating trial consisted of 10 parallel courtship matches (10 males and 10 females), and the independent mating trial was repeated four to eight times.…”