SEXUAL-BEHAVIOR OF A FEMALE STERILE MUTANT OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER

The courtship of male D. melanogaster to genetically sterilized females (homozygous for the fs(2)B gene) and their fertile siblings (heterozygous for fs(2)B) was investigated. Courtship measures were made with females from 2 dietary conditions (normal and glucose) and of 2 reproductive states (virgin and inseminated). Females homozygous for the mutant gene and females maintained on glucose had a lower level of sexual receptivity. These females received more intensive courtship than the control flies. The effects of insemination differed in their extent dependent upon genotype and diet. Locomotor activity was markedly affected by diet and to a lesser extent by genotype. The differences observed in courtship behavior could not be wholly attributed to differences in activity level. The similarity of the effects of the glucose diet and female sterility suggest that the ovaries, or neuroendocrine factors linked in feedback relationships to them, are responsible for the observed effects.