Insulin signals control the competence of the Drosophila female germline stem cell niche to respond to Notch ligands

► Insulin and Notch signaling intrinsically control stem cell niche size. ► Notch ligands from the niche itself stimulate cap cells, a major niche component. ► Insulin signals control the competence of cap cells to respond to Notch ligands. ► Insulin signals controls cap cell-stem cell attachment independently of Notch.