Temperature requirements of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann, 1819) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) under laboratory conditions

Abstract

Chrysomya albiceps specimens were obtained from colonies established with larvae and adults collected at the Federal Rural University in Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, State of Rio de Janeiro. The larval stage of C. albiceps was allowed to develop in climatic chambers at temperatures of 18, 22, 27 and 32 o C, and the pupal stage was allowed to develop at 22, 27 and 32 o C (60 ± 10% RH and 14 hr photoperiod).The duration and viability of the larval stage of C. albiceps at 18, 22, 27 and 32 o C were 21.30, 10.61, 5.0 and 4.0 days and 76.5, 88.5, 98.5 and 99.5%, respectively, with mean mature larval weights of 45.16, 81.86, 84.35 and 70.53 mg, respectively. Mean duration and viability of the pupal stage at 22, 27 and 32 o C were 9.36, 4.7 and 3.0 days and 93.8, 100 and 100%, respectively. The basal temperature for the larval and pupal stage and for the larval and adult phase were 15. 04, 17.39 and 15.38 o C, corresponding to 65.67, 44.15 and 114.23 DD. Key words: blowflies -Chrysomya albiceps -temperature requirementsChrysomya albiceps is of great medical and sanitary importance, being associated with myiasis in Africa (Zumpt 1965) and America (Guimarães et al. 1979), although it plays a more significant role as a predator of other dipteran larvae. Its potential as a vector of pathogenic microorganisms has been emphasized by several authors. The importance of this species in forensic medicine has been mentioned by Marchenko (1985). Guimarães et al. (1978) and Marchenko (1985) have pointed out the dangers of its presence in open and covered markets, garbage dumps and other biotopes because this species breeds extensively on human feces and decomposing animal tissue. According to Baumgartner and Greenberg (1984), information on the vertical distribution of Chrysomya species is limited and does not include heat tolerance ranges. According to these investigators, in Peru C. albiceps is a subtropical to temperate species and is rarely present at altitudes of less than 200 m (25.1-27 o C), but abundant from 1000 to 3100 m (11.1-25 o C), occurring up to the limit of 3325 m. These authors showed that C. albiceps can tolerate night temperatures below 0 o C, as pe- riodically observed in the Andes. According to Marchenko (1985), the ideal heat range for egg laying is 25 to 27 o C.The aim of the present study is to determine the lower temperature threshold (basal temperature) and the heat constant for different phases of the postembryonic development of C. albiceps, in order to contribute to the monitoring and control of this dipteran in the field and determine the most suitable conditions for its laboratory rearing. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe specimens were obtained from C. albiceps colonies established with larvae and adults col- The larval stage of C. albiceps was allowed to develop in climatic chambers regulated at 18, 22, 27 and 32 o C, and the pupal stage in chambers at 22, 27 and 32 o C (60 + 10% RH and 14 hr photoperiod).Eggs laid by the F1 generation of C. albiceps adults were transferred to 9.0 x 2.0 cm Petri d...

Temperature requirements for the growth of immature stages of blowflies species, Chrysomya albiceps and Calliphora vicina, (Diptera:Calliphoridae) under laboratory conditions

“…In this study, as other researches (Al-Shareef & AlQurashi, 2016;Grassberger et al, 2003;Queiroz, 1996;Grassberger & Reiter, 2001;Augul, 2009) we found that as the temperature increases, the length of the development is shortened. In C.albiceps, the length of larvae stage (first larval to Pupal instar) in 25°C and 30°C were 6 and 4 days, Queiroz (Queiroz, 1996) (5 days at 27°C); Augul and Jassim (Augul, 2009) (3 days at 30°C); AL-Shareef and AlQurashi(Al-Shareef & Al-Qurashi, 2016) (5 days); Richard et al (Richards et al, 2008) (5.…”

“…In C.albiceps, the length of larvae stage (first larval to Pupal instar) in 25°C and 30°C were 6 and 4 days, Queiroz (Queiroz, 1996) (5 days at 27°C); Augul and Jassim (Augul, 2009) (3 days at 30°C); AL-Shareef and AlQurashi(Al-Shareef & Al-Qurashi, 2016) (5 days); Richard et al (Richards et al, 2008) (5. 5 days); Shiravi et al (Shiravi et al, 2011) (2-3 days at 28°C).…”

“…By reviewing previous studies, i.e. Marchenko, (Marchenko, 1989) Queiroz, (Queiroz, 1996 Grassberger and Reiter, (Grassberger & Reiter, 2001) Richard et al, (Richards et al, 2008) and Al-Shareef and Al-Qurashi, (Al-Shareef & Al-Qurashi, 2016) conducted in different geographic populations, some numbers were calculated for the Dz temperature of the species C.albiceps and regarding all of which an average temperature was determined for each stage as follows: egg stage to first larvae (9.72°C); larvae stage one to second stage (11. 14°C); second stage to third stage (13°C); larvae stage three to pupal (14.48°C) and for pupal stage to adult (14.…”

“…1) (Al-Shareef & Al-Qurashi, 2016;Smith, 1986;Tabor et al, 2004;Grassberger et al, 2003). This species is reported to be seen in afro-tropical, oriental, south central America and southern Europe and the areas located at altitudes of 1300-3100 m above sea level (Queiroz, 1996;Szpila et al, 2008). In most of these researches, this species is known as primary species and is considered as the first colonizer that is responsible for using dead bodies (Al-Mesbah et al, 2011;Bharti & Singh, 2003).…”

Rate of development of forensically-important Dipterain southern Brazil

“…As for the others, data refer to the estimations obtained for the development of immatures in constant temperatures, which are in disagreement with results observed in this work (Wells & Kurahashi 1994;Aguiar-Coelho & Milward-de-Azevedo 1995;D'Almeida & Mello 1995;Queiroz & Milward-de-Azevedo 1996;Milwardde-Azevedo et al 1996;Paes et al 1997;Marchenko 2001;Mascarini & Prado 2002;Gabre et al 2005;Krüger et al 2008) (Table I). With the exception of estimates for S. crassipalpis, S. chlorogaster and H. segmentaria (Bonatto 1996;Krüger et al 2003;Thyssen 2005), which are close to the data obtained in ambient temperature, the remainder of the species presents a development period larger than what would be expected from ambient temperatures.…”