Do wild-caught fly larvae cooperatively forage?

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Animal Behavior
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Cooperative foraging is common in animals, requiring adherence to group rules.
• Drosophila larvae form clusters for efficient feeding, excluding non-synchronous individuals.
• The occurrence and selectivity of clustering in wild fly larvae are largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate clustering behavior in wild-caught Drosophila larvae across multiple species.
• To determine the extent of selectivity in group membership for larval clusters.
• To explore the fitness consequences of interspecies larval clustering.

Main Methods:

• Field collection of larval clusters from rotting fruit, identifying seven fly species.
• Laboratory clustering assays using five wild-caught lines and 20 inbred wild-caught lines.
• Assessment of inter- and intra-species clustering capacities and adult fitness outcomes.

Main Results:

• Clustering behavior was observed in all tested species except Drosophila suzukii.
• Significant variation in the capacity to join different clusters was found both between and within species.
• Larval co-clustering generally conferred mutual fitness benefits to participating fly lines.

Conclusions:

• Multiple Drosophila species exhibit co-clustering behavior in larval stages.
• Interspecies larval clustering demonstrates significant ecological implications within Drosophila communities.
• The ability to co-cluster varies genetically, but often results in positive fitness outcomes.