Food Preferences of Drosophila larvae

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Abstract
A method for determining food preferences of Drosophila larvae was described. Larvae of D. persimilis and D. pseudoobscura showed preferences among 4 types of yeast which they commonly eat, and these preferences differed between these spp. Larvae of D. persimilis showed greatest preference for Saccharomyces drosophilarum followed in order by S. ceriviseae, S. montanus, and S. veronae; D. pseudoobscura larvae preferred these yeasts in following order: S. veronae, S. drosophilarum, S. montanus, S. ceriviseae. Per cent survival and hatching time of D. pseudoobscura on same 4 yeasts were determined. There was no difference in per cent survival, but there was a difference of 2.5 days in average hatching time of adult flies raised on S. ceriviseae and S. veronae.