Gregarious Oviposition in Drosophila Melanogaster Is Explained by Surface Texture.

Abstract

Laboratory experiments showed that the previously reported tendency of D. melanogaster females to lay their eggs close to other Drosophila eggs and larvae, was really a response to surface texture. Oviposition was encouraged by a rough surface, and the presence of eggs and larvae on smooth food medium provided sufficient surface texture to stimulate egg-laying. Such an effect would certainly not be significant in natural breeding sites.