Data from: Nutritional geometry and fitness consequences in Drosophila suzukii, the Spotted-Wing Drosophila

Since its arrival to North America less than a decade ago, the invasive Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) has inflicted substantial economic losses on soft fruit agriculture due to its ability to oviposit into ripening fruits. More effective management approaches for this species are needed, but little is known about the factors that influence behavioral choices made by D. suzukii when selecting hosts, or the consequences that their offspring experience when developing in different environments. Using a nutritional geometry methodology, we found that the ratio of proteins-to-carbohydrates (P:C) present in media greatly influenced adult D. suzukii behavior and subsequent offspring development. Whereas adult flies showed a strong bias in their oviposition and association behaviors toward carbohydrate-rich foods, larval survival and eclosion rate were strongly dependent on protein availability. Here, we explore the preference–performance hypothesis (PPH), in which females are predicted to oviposit on medias that provide the greatest offspring benefits, in regard to its relevance in D. suzukii behavior and consequences for management. Our results provide valuable insight into the ecology and evolution of this species that may hopefully lead to more effective management strategies.

自不到十年前传入北美以来，入侵物种斑翅果蝇（Spotted-Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii）因其可在成熟软质果实内产卵的特性，已对软质果实农业造成巨额经济损失。当前亟需针对该物种的更高效防控手段，但目前对斑翅果蝇选择寄主时的行为决策影响因素，以及其子代在不同环境下发育时的生存后果，人们的认知仍十分有限。本研究采用营养几何法（nutritional geometry methodology）开展实验，发现培养基中的蛋白质与碳水化合物之比（P:C）对成虫行为及后续子代发育具有显著调控作用。成虫在产卵行为与寄主趋向行为上均对高碳水化合物食物表现出强烈偏好，而幼虫存活率与羽化率则高度依赖蛋白质的可获取性。本研究旨在探讨偏好-性能假说（PPH）在斑翅果蝇行为中的适用性及其对防控工作的意义，该假说预测雌性成虫会选择能为后代提供最大生存优势的寄主产卵。本研究结果为该物种的生态学与进化研究提供了重要见解，有望助力开发更高效的防控策略。