Nutritional ecology of blowflies (Diptera, Calliphoridae): estimates of critical larval weight for pupation on two different

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Nutritional ecology of blowflies (Diptera, Calliphoridae): estimates of critical larval weight for pupation on two different diets. Under natural environmental conditions, blowflies utilize discrete and ephemeral feeding resources such as decaying carcasses. Competition for food on such feeding substrates is usually very severe, and only the individuals that are capable of attaining the critical larval weight for pupation will be able to survive. This critical weight is hitherto unknown for several blowfly species; therefore, the current work is aimed at obtaining such a critical value for four blowfly species of the genera Chrysomya and Lucilia, deploying two types of feeding substrate, namely, artificial diet and macerated bovine meat. On the whole, the critical weights ranged from 30 to 35 mg. The lowest larval weight which permitted pupation was 30.0 mg for Chrysomya megacephala reared on macerated bovine meat. This species was also the best adapted to pupation at low larval weights in relation to the maximum larval weight for males. Regarding the pupation of females, the best-adapted individual was a C. albiceps specimen exhibiting a critical weight that was equal to 39.20 % of the maximum value obtained. Concerning all the species and diet types, the female individuals exhibited the lowest critical weights that produced viable pupae, probably representing an evolutionary strategy that favoured the survival of females, responsible for the egg formation, contributing to the establishment of future generations. Regarding the loss (in percentage) of adult biomass in relation to the third instar larvae, the females of C. megacephala lost less weight than males in both feeding substrates. On the other hand, such a loss of weight occurred in males of C. albiceps and L. cuprina.KEYWORDS. Calliphorids; competition; food; larvae; minimum weight.RESUMO. Ecologia nutricional de moscas-varejeiras (Diptera, Calliphoridae): estimativas de peso larval crítico para pupação em duas diferentes dietas. Em ambiente natural, as moscas-varejeiras utilizam como alimento, substratos discretos e efêmeros, como por exemplo, carcaças em decomposição. Normalmente, o nível de competição por alimento nesses substratos é bastante severo, e somente vão sobreviver os indivíduos que atingiram o peso larval crítico para pupação. Como esse valor não é conhecido para várias espécies de moscas-varejeiras, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi de obter esse peso crítico para quatro espécies de moscas-varejeiras dos gêneros Chrysomya e Lucilia, em dois tipos de substrato alimentar: dieta artificial e carne bovina moída. Os pesos críticos geralmente se situaram na faixa de 30 a 35 mg. O menor peso larval que permitiu a pupação foi de 30,0 mg em C. megacephala criada em carne bovina moída. Esta espécie também foi a mais adaptada a empupar com pesos larvais baixos em relação ao peso larval máximo para machos. Já a fêmea melhor adaptada a empupar foi uma C. albiceps com peso crítico representando 39,20 % do máximo obtido. Os menores pesos crí...

In Vitro Effects of Household Products on Calliphoridae Larvae Development: Implication for Forensic Entomology

“…According to this hypothesis, larvae bred on caustic soda produced smaller flies and more females than larvae bred in control conditions (Figs and , Table ). The adult size also strongly correlated with larval weight . Thus, the small size of the adults observed in the presence of caustic soda or citronella repellent and the high pupal mortality may be due to food‐deprived larvae .…”

“…Former studies reported that larvae need to reach a critical mass to pupate and successfully develop into adult flies . Ribeiro and Von Zuben also noted that the critical weights of larvae needed to produce viable pupae were lower for females than for males. The authors hypothesized that this difference is an evolutionary strategy that favored the establishment of future generations.…”

Quickie well done: no evidence of physiological costs in the development race ofLucilia sericatanecrophagous larvae

“…Some previous studies on Calliphoridae suggest that a critical weight is required to enter pupation (Ribeiro & von Zuben, ; Muntzer et al ., ). However, the high survival rate of postfeeding larvae observed during the present study indicates that most individuals, even those with the fastest development (i.e.…”

Domestic Filth Flies in New Haven, Connecticut: A Case Study on the Effects of Urbanization and Climate Change by Comparing Fly Populations after 78 Years

“…Arthropods in most urban systems are controlled through resource-based competition or bottom-up forces [110]. While the availability of domestic food waste and animal feces increases the availability of food, the poor nutritional value of such substances is often unable to sustain developing larvae, reducing survival, fecundity, and the size of adults [111,112]. While such an observation is anecdotal at this stage, L. sericata adult specimens in the current survey were noticeably smaller than specimens examined from other regions.…”