# Effect of acetic acid bacteria colonization on oviposition and feeding site choice in Drosophila suzukii and its related species

## TL;DR

This study explores how acetic acid bacteria affect where fruit flies lay eggs and feed, focusing on Drosophila suzukii and related species.

## Contribution

The study reveals that oviposition preferences for acetic acid bacteria evolved independently from feeding preferences in Drosophila species.

## Key findings

- Drosophila suzukii and related species show a preference for oviposition sites with Acetobacter growth.
- Feeding site preferences for Acetobacter-containing media are similar across species.
- Oviposition and feeding site preferences for Acetobacter evolved independently in these species.

## Abstract

Unlike many species of
Drosophila
flies that colonize decaying fruits,
Drosophila suzukii
lay eggs in ripening fruits. The oviposition and feeding site preferences for bacterial growth were quantified in multiple strains of
D. suzukii
and its closely related species,
D. subpulchrella
and
D. biarmipes
. A continuous degree of preference for oviposition sites with
Acetobacter
growth both within and across species suggested that the separation in resource usage is notable but not complete among these species. The lack of interspecific differences in feeding site preference for
Acetobacter
-containing media implied that the oviposition site preferences evolved independently from the feeding site preference.