The Effect of Adult Body Color Mutations upon the Larva of Drosophila Melanogaster

Abstract

Pigmentation of the larval mouthparts and spiracle sheaths has been studied in the mutations of D. melanogaster which influence adult body or bristle color. Of the mutants characterized by darkened adult pigmentation, only the ebony alleles were found to increase pigmentation of the larval mouthparts. The ebony alleles considerably darken the spiracle sheaths at all stages of development; no other genetic factors were observed to have this effect. In general, the mutants whose adult body color is lighter than wild type are characterized by lighter pigmentation of the larval mouth-parts. Bristle color appears to be affected less than either body color or mouthpart pigmentation.