title: Sexual Behavior of Drosophila suzukii.
abstract: A high reproductive potential is one reason for the rapid spread of Drosophila suzukii in Europe and in the United States. In order to identify mechanisms that mediate mating and reproduction in D. suzukii we studied the fly's reproductive behavior, diurnal mating activity and sexual maturation. Furthermore, we studied the change of female cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) with age and conducted a preliminary investigation on the role of female-derived chemical signals in male mating behavior. Sexual behavior in D. suzukii is characterized by distinct elements of male courtship leading to female acceptance for mating. Time of day and age modulate D. suzukii mating activity. As with other drosophilids, female sexual maturity is paralleled by a quantitative increase in CHCs. Neither female CHCs nor other olfactory signals were required to induce male courtship, however, presence of those signals significantly increased male sexual behavior. With this pilot study we hope to stimulate research on the reproductive biology of D. suzukii, which is relevant for the development of pest management tools.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, 23053, Sweden. revadi.santosh@slu.se.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Revadi
authors.affiliation: Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, 23053, Sweden. sebastien.lebreton@slu.se.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lebreton
authors.affiliation: Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, 23053, Sweden. peter.witzgall@slu.se.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Witzgall
authors.affiliation: Research and Innovation Centre, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Via E. Mach 1, San Michele All'Adige (TN), 38010, Italy. gianfranco.anfora@fmach.it.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anfora
authors.affiliation: Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, 23053, Sweden. teun.dekker@slu.se.
authors.forename: Teun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.affiliation: Chemical Ecology Unit, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, 23053, Sweden. paul.becher@slu.se.
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Becher
keywords: chemical communication; courtship; pheromone; reproductive behavior; sexual receptivity; spotted wing Drosophila