Ecological aspects of cactus triterpene glycosides I. Their effect on fitness components ofDrosophila mojavensis.

The effects of pentacyclic triterpene glycosides extracted from agria and organ pipe cacti on three fitness parameters of the cactophilic fruit fly,Drosophila mojavensis were tested. Triterpene glycosides from organ pipe increased development time and reduced larval viability while those from agria produced smaller adults (reduced fecundity). In addition, the microbial communities in the organ pipe saponin media were less dense than those in the media to which agria saponins had been added. The role of cactus triterpene glycosides in the ecology of thisDrosophila species is discussed.