Evolution of energy utilization during metamorphosis in rapid developing Drosophila melanogaster

Maintenance of energy homeostasis is essential for survival. Reduced development time is often associated with tradeoffs among life history traits due to limited time in acquiring energy reserves. Late third instar larvae of Drosophila melanogaster selected for faster development and increased longevity (FLJs) had triacylglycerol comparable to their ancestral control (JBs) populations, despite their reduced larval duration. However, FLJ adults have non-significantly reduced lipid levels at emergence and significantly reduced starvation resistance post-emergence, indicating altered energy utilization during pupal stage. These findings suggest that the cost of rapid development arises not from energy acquisition, but from its utilization and deployment during metamorphosis.