Road to sexual maturity: Behavioral event schedule from eclosion to first mating in each sex of Drosophila melanogaster

Animals achieve their first mating through the process of sexual maturation. This study examined the precise and detailed timing of a series of behavioral events, including wing expansion, first feeding, first excretion, and courtship, during sex-ual maturation from eclosion to first mating in D. melanogaster. We found that the time of first mating is genetically invariant and is not affected by light/dark cycle or food intake after eclosion. We also found sexual dimorphism in locomotor activity after eclosion, with females increasing locomotor activity earlier than males. In addition, we found a time rapidly changing from extremely low to high sexual activity in males post eclosion (named drastic male courtship arousalor DMCA). These behavioral traits leading up to the first mating could serve as clear indicators of sexual maturation and establish precisely timed developmental landmarks to explore further the mechanisms underlying the integration of behavioral and physiological sexual maturation.

Automated summary

This study examined the timing of various behavioral events during sexual maturation in D. melanogaster and found that the time of first mating is genetically determined and not influenced by light/dark cycle or food intake. Additionally, sexual dimorphism in locomotor activity was observed, with females increasing activity earlier than males. The study also identified a rapid change in sexual activity in males post-eclosion, which could serve as an indicator of sexual maturation.