Aspectos da biologia da reprodução e longevidade de Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) (Diptera, Calliphoridae), em condições experimentais. I. casais agrupados

Abstract

ABSTRACT. BIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE REPRODUCTlON AND LONGEVITY OFCOCIILlOMl'IA MA CELLARlA (FABRlCIUS) (DIPTERA, CALLlPHORlDAE) UNDER EXPERIMENTAL CONDITIONS. I. GROUPED PAIRS. ln the present study we estimed the longevity and reproductive potential of Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775), in different densities of grouped pairs, as a function oftime of collection. The study was divided into lwo phases and conducted in an incubator regulated aI 27°C, 65± 1 0% RH and 14 hours photoperiod. Forty and 20 pairs/replication were used, corresponding to the third and fourlh generation originating from a laboratory colony. Egg masses were collected at 8:00 and 17:00 hours daily . The results obtained were influenced by the variables established. The ovipositing peak occurred 20 days afier the emergence of females belonging to the third generalion. This peak occurred earlier in fourth generalion females , i.e., II days after imago emergence. These peaks corresponded to a total of 0,30 and 0,23g of egg masses, respectively. The survival curves for adults were estimated by the Weibull method. KEY WORDS. Cochliomyia macel/aria, bowlfy, rearing methods, reprodutive behavior, secondary screwworm As observações sobre os hábitos alimentares dos adultos de Coch/iomyia macellaria (Fabricius, 1775) que incluem a necrofagia, a ingestão de exudados corporais, e resíduos alimentares urbanos (LAAKE et aI. 1936;FERREIRA 1978FERREIRA , 1983 GUIMARÃES et aI. 1983), correlacionados a surtos de algumas doenças infecto-contagiosas, sugerem a possibilidade da participação desta espécie na transmissão de patógenos, seja mecanicamente ou por regurgitação e excreção de material infectante (BISHOP 1915;GREENBERG 1971).Os adultos de C. macellaria também se alimentam do néctar de flores, sendo, inclusive, atraídos por vegetais que emitem odores semelhantes à carne putrefata, tais como Aristolochia sp. e lris foetidissima Linnaeus (GREENBERG 1971; TOM-PKINS & BIRD 1988). Entretanto, as informações relativas à bi' ologia do adulto desta espécie são incipientes, existindo apenas algumas observações sobre o assunto