News Animals

A single protein makes lovesick flies spill their guts

An unusual fly wooing behavior may have evolved by borrowing neurons that control digestion

Male fruit fly offers female a pink droplet of sugar water.

Vomiting might not seem like the most romantic gesture from a potential suitor. But Drosophila subobscura males that spill their guts turn out to be quite a catch.

R. Tanaka et al/Science 2025

By Sofia Caetano Avritzer

Vomiting up a droplet of sugar might not seem like the most romantic gesture from a potential suitor.