The effects of target contrast on Drosophila courtship

• DOI: 10.1242/jeb.203414
• Publication Date: 2019-07-17T18:45:14Z
• Authors: Sweta Agrawal; Michael H. Dickinson
• Keywords: Gray (unit); Courtship display; High contrast; Sensory cue; White (mutation)

Many animals use visual cues such as object shape, color and motion to detect pursue conspecific mates. Contrast is another possibly informative cue, but has not been studied in great detail. In this study, we presented male Drosophila melanogaster with small, fly-sized, moving objects painted either black, white or gray test whether they contrast identify We found that males frequently chased rarely black objects. Although started chasing often objects, the resulting chases were much shorter. To attraction was mediated via contrast, fabricated behavioral chambers. However, wild-type almost never any these darkly colored circumvent limitation, increased baseline levels of by thermogenetically activating P1 neurons promote courtship. Males activated maintained a similar preference for despite elevated courtship behavior. When placed chamber, switched their more than also tested orient particular parts female's body during two colors, positioned themselves next half regardless other white. These results suggest can recognize potential mates position