Shifted levels of sleep and activity under darkness as mechanisms underlying ectoparasite resistance

Parasites harm host fitness and are pervasive agents of natural selection to evolve host defense strategies. Host defensive traits in populations typically show genetic variation, which may be maintained when resistance imposes fitness costs on the host in the absence of parasites. Previously we demonstrated significant evolutionary responses to artificial selection for increasing behavioral immunity to Gamasodes queenslandicus mites in replicate lines of Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we report transcriptional shifts in metabolic processes between selected and control fly lines based on RNA-seq analyses. We also show decreased starvation resistance and increased use of nutrient reserves in flies from mite-resistant lines. Additionally, mite-resistant lines exhibited increased behavioral activity, such as, reduced sleep and elevated oxygen consumption under conditions of darkness. The link between resistance and sleep was confirmed in an independent panel of D. melanogaster genetic line..., , , # Data from: Shifted levels of sleep and activity under darkness as mechanisms underlying ectoparasite resistance [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ghx3ffbzc](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.ghx3ffbzc) ## Description of the data and file structure **These are the combined datasets for Benoit et al. 2024.** **[https://www.nature.com/articles/s44323-025-00031-7](https://www.nature.com/articles/s44323-025-00031-7)** Figure 1A - Results from the prolonged selection for mite resistance. Generation is the number of selections conducted. Line is the replicate line for selection. Replicate chamber was used to compare control and selected lines in the same mite parasitism chamber. sex is male or female. Selection treatment is control or selected. Total is the number of flies added. Dead is the number of flies not recovered. Hit is the number with mites attached. Infected is the number of fleas with mites attached or a scar from mite attachment. Uninfected is the number of flies with no scars or m..., ,