Table 1.
Escalating level of aggression that characterizes male-male contests in the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae
| Level | Behavior | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Avoidance (both) | Mutual avoidance: non-aggressive interaction |
| 1 | Avoidance (one) | Pre-established dominance: one male attacks, the other retreats |
| 2 | Wing waving (one) | Attacker faces the opponent and brings both wings forward perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of its body, while ventral surface of wings are turned to face anterior |
| 3 | Wing waving (both) | Both males perform wing waving acts |
| 4 | Chasing | Running towards the opponent |
| 5 | Pouncing | Lunging at the opponent ending with head butting |
| 6 | Boxing (one) | Attacker raises forelegs, repeatedly and alternately hitting opponent on the head and thorax |
| 7 | Boxing (both) | Both males grasp each other with forelegs |