A naive, sexually mature
D. melanogaster male tested with a young, sexually immature male will perform vigorous courtship, but the mature male will perform much less courtship if he is subsequently tested with a second young male. This phenomenon is called experience-dependent courtship modification (EDCM). We have shown that exposure to either or both of the two courtship-stimulating pheromones that immature males synthesize is sufficient to induce EDCM.
Key Words
Drosophila melanogaster
- sex pheromone - courtship - homosexuality - behavioral plasticity