The antennae and mating behaviour ofDrosophila females

Summary The females ofDrosophila bipectinata andD. malerkotliana are able to discriminate between their own and alien males in the absence of antennae. Thus mate recognition seems to depend on contact chemoreceptors in these 2 species.We are grateful to the Head of the Department of Zoology, B.H.U. for providing the necessary facilities. Thanks are due to the U.G.C., New Delhi, India for awarding a junior research fellowship to O.P.S.