Abstract
We have monitored the ontogeny of several behaviors performed by young Drosophila melanogasteradults. Very young flies are less active than older flies and are less responsive to gravity, light, an odorant, and sucrose applied to their tarsi. In addition, very young males do not consume sucrose or perform any courtship behaviors in response to virgin females, which provide chemical and visual stimuli to courting males. The rate at which flies become maximally competent to respond to stimuli is a function of the behavior. Sensory and motor deficits are not solely responsible for young flies' inability to respond to the stimuli, which suggests that the central nervous system continues to develop after eclosion.
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Ford, S.C., Napolitano, L.M., McRobert, S.P. et al. Development of behavioral competence in youngDrosophila melanogaster adults. J Insect Behav 2, 575–588 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01053355
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01053355