Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Oviposition Behavior in Previous Oviposition Situation

Abstract

Blowflies use their sense of smell to locate oviposition substrates and their vision to direct and assist in landing decision. Blowflies' ovipositions are usually aggregated. Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) females, for example, prefer to lay eggs on substrates containing fresh eggs of the same species. However, it is possible that females would be capable of evaluating the substrate, reducing the size of egg cluster in sites with a high amount of eggs or larvae, or finding another site for laying their eggs, preventing the progeny from facing high competition for space and food. The present study aimed to investigate whether females of C. megacephala could distinguish and preferentially select previously infested substrates and whether females would lay their eggs attached or separate from eggs previously laid on the substrate. Behavioral measures were conducted inside cages under laboratory conditions in free-choice tests. Data analysis confirmed that C. megacephala females are able to distinguish the presence of cospecific eggs in the substrate and preferentially select previously infested substrates for egg laying, depositing their eggs separate from pre-existing large egg masses.

On the influence of environmental factors on the oviposition activity of necrophagous flies

“…The factors responsible for delays in oviposition have hardly been investigated in detail so far but are of great importance, as testing the validity of a key assumption, like the timely colonisation of a body, would lead to a better case specific estimation of the PMI (Tarone & Sanford, 2017). Some studies were performed to analyse relevant biotic factors like intra-and inter-specific competition (Denno & Cothran, 1976;Kotzé & Tomberlin, 2020;Prinkkila & Hanski, 1995), the previous presence of predator and prey larvae on the carrion (Brundage, 2012;Gião & Godoy, 2007), the presence of pheromones (Barton Browne et al, 1969;Lima & Von Zuben, 2016;Norris, 1965) but also physical barriers or other concealments (Bhadra et al, 2014;Charabidzé et al, 2015;Lutz, Moreau, et al, 2019;Scholl & Moffatt, 2017;Voss et al, 2008) and the habitat itself, for example, indoor or outdoor (Anderson, 2011;Cammack et al, 2016;Reibe & Madea, 2010).…”

“…Some studies were performed to analyse relevant biotic factors like intra‐ and inter‐specific competition (Denno & Cothran, 1976; Kotzé & Tomberlin, 2020; Prinkkila & Hanski, 1995), the previous presence of predator and prey larvae on the carrion (Brundage, 2012; Gião & Godoy, 2007), the presence of pheromones (Barton Browne et al, 1969; Lima & Von Zuben, 2016; Norris, 1965) but also physical barriers or other concealments (Bhadra et al, 2014; Charabidzé et al, 2015; Lutz, Moreau, et al, 2019; Scholl & Moffatt, 2017; Voss et al, 2008) and the habitat itself, for example, indoor or outdoor (Anderson, 2011; Cammack et al, 2016; Reibe & Madea, 2010).…”

Behavioral report of Chrysomya rufifacies in response to substrate infestation by Lucilia sericata and Lucilia cuprina using a tetrahedron olfactometer device

“…Oviposition of the flies was induced by placing 50 grams of beef liver in gravid blowfly cages. The eggs were placed in 1-liter plastic jars filled with sawdust ( 20 ). After hatching, they were fed 300 grams of bovine liver.…”