Comparative Study of Thirteen Species of Sarcosaprophagous Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae (Diptera)1 I. Bionomics

Abstract

The species studied, representing nine genera in the two families, were: Wohlfartia opaca (Coq.), Sarcophaga cooleyi Park., S. shermani Park., S. bullata Park., Protocalliphora avium (S. & D.), Phormia regina (Meig.), Protophormia terrae-novae (R. D.), Phaenicia sericata (Meig.), Eucalliphora lilaea (Walker), Cynomyopsis cadaverina (R. D.), Calliphora vomitoria (L.), C. vicina R. D., and C. terrae-novae Macq. All except W. opaca and P. avium were reared successfully at 80 ±2° F. and 50±2 percent relative humidity; life history data on the other 11 species are tabulated and discussed. Controlled temperature and humidity, as employed here, accelerated the life cycle and shortened the adult life in comparison with results under fluctuating room temperature conditions. Beef liver was the most suitable rearing and oviposition medium. All species studied except E. lilaea avoided hog liver as a rearing medium, and all the calliphorids except E.lilaea (but none of the sarcophagids) required protein meal prior to copulation. Both protein and carbohydrates were required for oviposition. Severe competition for food prolonged the larval feeding period and gave rise to a large population of small-sized individuals; the sex ratio remained unaffected in underfed populations. Inherent ability to meet a critical shortage of food varies in different species; it is dependent upon whether the larvae has obtained the minimum food required to satisfy the physiological level of their metamorphosis and further their development. The possible significance of this inherent ability is in providing the mechanism of adaptation, which in turn influences distribution and population density of the species.