Heed W. B., Kircher H. W., Unique sterol in the ecology and nutrition of Drosophila pachea, Science, 1965, 149(3685):758-761, doi: 10.1126/science.149.3685.758
Classic feeding experiments on Drosophila pachea breeding in decomposing senita stems. Cactus tissue and isolated or synthetic sterols were added to determine the fly’s developmental and reproductive requirements. Axenic cultures distinguished sterol utilization from microbial mediation.