The classic episode of biological invasion: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) versus Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) - evaluation of the biotic potential

Abstract

The classic episode of biological invasion: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) versus Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) -evaluation of the biotic potential. The biotic of the native fly Cochliomyia macellaria and the exotic Chrysomya megacephala was compared, through the reproductive capacity and longevity. The experiment took place in a climatized chamber, with four repetitions of 15 grouped couples of each species. The posture, egg mass weight, and death of individuals were observed daily. C. macellaria showed an average of longevity of 27.72 days while in C. megacephala the average was 41.96 days. The egg mass weight average per repetition was 0.58 g and 1.22 g, respectively. These results give a better understanding about the population dynamics of these species in nature.

The uses of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in forensic entomology

“…The longevity of adults is affected by temperature and humidity. The mean and maximum lifespans of adults at 40% relative humidity (RH) were 64 and 105 days, respectively; and at 75% RH, 54 and 95 days, respectively [ 110 ]; other studies found shorter lifespans [ 96 ], and that males lived seven days longer than females [ 114 ]. On salted cod, longevity was 47–55 days [ 115 ].…”

“…These figures illustrate another aspect of why this species spread around the planet so quickly, and why it is potentially the most significant insect in forensic entomology. The biotic potential (quantified as longevity and mean egg mass) of C. megacephala is greater than that of Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) [ 114 ], but the shortage of data for other blow fly species under similar experimental conditions precludes wider comparison.…”

Transcriptome analysis uncovers different avenues for manipulating cold performance in Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera, Calliphoridae)

“…The oriental latrine fly Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) is distributed across all continents except Antarctica (Barbosa et al ., 2016). The widespread spatial and temporal distribution along with often high abundances of adults suggests a wide tolerance to temperatures.…”