Comparing Drosophila suzukii flight behavior using free‐flight and tethered flight assays

• Published in: Entomologia experimentalis et applicata 2022-11, Vol.170 (11), p.973-981
• Main Authors: Tran, Anh K., Kees, Aubree M., Hutchison, William D., Aukema, Brian H., Rao, Sujaya, Rogers, Mary A., Asplen, Mark K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Body size; comparative experiment; Diptera; dispersal; Drosophila suzukii; Drosophilidae; Economic importance; Flight behavior; flight chamber; flight mill; Fruit flies; Insects; Laboratories; Pests; range expansion; Range extension; spotted‐wing drosophila; Summer; technique comparison
• ISSN: 0013-8703; 1570-7458
• DOI: 10.1111/eea.13222

Tethered flight mills and free‐flight studies are two common approaches for examining insect flight behavior in the laboratory. Flight behavior studies are significant because they provide information with understanding dispersal and range expansion. Each approach has advantages and drawbacks and can influence the flight behavior of the study organism. However, tethered and untethered flight studies are rarely performed simultaneously to determine whether one technique is better suited for a particular species. Here, we conducted a tethered and untethered flight study to determine the limitations, benefits, and effects the two methods could have on assessing an insect's flight capacity. We focused the study on the global invasive pest, Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Propensity of flight and flight duration, distance, and velocity were examined for (1) females and males, and (2) summer and winter morphs, as the two morphs differ significantly in body and wing size. The study showed that summer morphs were more likely to fly when untethered than when tethered to a flight mill. Additionally, when comparing the length of time of flight for first take‐off, D. suzukii flew longer when untethered. Outcomes from this study provide information on D. suzukii flight behavior, which could assist with future research on this economically important fruit pest that is rapidly expanding its range. The results also suggest that the flight apparatus can affect D. suzukii flight behaviors, such that future laboratory flight research should be considerate of the flight technique utilized. Tethered and untethered flights are two approaches for examining insect flight behavior. Rarely are these methods performed simultaneously to determine whether one tactic is better suited for a species. We conducted a flight study to determine the effects the flight assays could have on Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) females and males, and summer and winter morphs. Results showed that the flight apparatus affected D. suzukii flight behavior. Future laboratory flight research should be considerate of the flight technique utilized.