PULSE INTERVAL AS A CRITICAL PARAMETER IN COURTSHIP SONG OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER

Summaryo1.Males of Drosophila melanogaster produce courtship songs which sexually stimulate the females. The songs consist of trains of single cycle pulses of sound of 3 msec length separated by intervals of 34 msec.2.The effect on female receptivity of varying pulse length and pulse interval was tested by using simulated songs.3.The species specific nature of the song is determined by pulse interval and not pulse length. © 1969.