Genetic and Molecular Analysis of the Love Song Preferences of Drosophila Females

The courtship songs of male Drosophila have been studied atthe behavioural, genetic and molecular levels. Less attentionhas been paid to the female's responses to these songs. Playbackexperiments are described which suggest that courtship songsare an important component of female mate choice. Some of theimplications of the behavioural responses of hybrid femalesbetween D. melanogaster and D. simulans are examined in thelight of theories concerning the mechanisms by which insectcommunication systems might evolve. The role of the period genein both male song production and in female song reception isconsidered, and the neural regions in the female which may beimportant for song integration are briefly discussed.