Sex ratio, resistance to parasitoid attack, and starvation responses of drosophilid flies to Spiroplasma infection, from a laboratory study

The Z. kolodkinae flies were sourced from Drosophila species centre originated from Antananrivo, Madagascar from a collection made in 2007. D. hydei flies infected with sHy1 were originally collected in January from Mexico.

For sex ratio, flies with and without Spiroplasma were allowed to breed in factorial combinations (female with and without spiroplasma, male with and without spiroplasma). Sex ratio of F1 progeny from vials (replicated) was scored using genital morphology. Data was written into an electronic lab book, and then transcribed to a spreadsheet.

For protection against wasps, flies with and without Spiroplasma were allowed to breed and lay eggs on grape juice plates, 30 larvae were then picked into a vial and attacked by L. heterotoma wasps (or no wasp control). The number surviving to pupation and adult was scored. The experiment was completed in two blocks. Data was initially written on paper data sheets then transcribed into spreadsheets.

For starvation tolerance, flies with and without Spiroplasma were placed under nutrient deprivation, monitored every 8 hours, and time to death recorded. Results either manually written and then transcribed into spreadsheets, or collected in an electronic lab book and then transcribed to spreadsheets.

In all cases, Flies were dipstick tested for infection status by PCR assay after experiments to ensure data quality.