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

Abstract

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.

Honey bee flights near hover under ethanol-exposure show changes in body and wing kinematics

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Arduino‐integrated flight mill: A cost‐effective approach to studying insect flight behavior

“…Within entomology, it serves as a beacon that illuminates the intricacies of insect dispersal strategies, habitat preferences and potential migration patterns (Robinet et al 2019). These insights are invaluable, especially when studying behavioral modulations triggered by environmental variations (Tran et al 2022). The significance of the flight mill transcends basic research, finding its foothold in practical applications such as pest management (Zheng et al 2021).…”

“…These insights are invaluable, especially when studying behavioral modulations triggered by environmental variations (Tran et al . 2022). The significance of the flight mill transcends basic research, finding its foothold in practical applications such as pest management (Zheng et al .…”

Flight capabilities of invasive yellowjacket Vespula germanica drones: the effect of kinship and nutrition

“…Data is collected by an ad‐hoc software (in‐house developed) that translates the signal into flight distance (m) and speed (m s −1 ) (JM Villacide & AS Martínez, flight mill system patent pending). Tethered flight mills are a common approach to examine comparatively the effects of life‐history traits (i.e., age, sex) or physiological status on flight performance (Schumacher et al., 1997; Bruzzone et al., 2009; Masciocchi et al., 2018; Tran et al., 2022).…”