In the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, the number of ovarioles, and hence the maximum number of eggs developed in each ovarian cycle, is a linear function of adult size (headwidth). Field females have a mean headwidth of 3.0 mm (range=2.30–3.50 mm) and a mean potential fecundity/cycle of 232 eggs (range=111–318 eggs). Realised fecundity is influenced by the quality and amount of protein in the adult diet. All field females appear to have the same minimum protein requirement for egg maturation, i.e., whatever their size (potential fecundity) females must obtain sufficient protein to mature at least 110 eggs in order to become gravid. Females whose protein intake exceeds this minimum but falls short of the amount needed for maturation of their full egg complements resorb some of their oocytes and mature the remainder. Since potential fecundity increases with fly size, large females resorb more oocytes than small females under suboptimal protein regimes, i.e., the proportion of oocytes resorbed increases with fly size. Under field conditions, females rarely matured full complements of eggs, which indicates a general shortage of protein‐rich material. The mean reduction in fecundity of field females during these studies was 53.4 eggs/cycle (23.2%). RÉSUMÉ Relations entre la fécondité et la resorption des ovocytes dans des populations de la nature de Lucilia cuprina Wiedemann (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Chez Lucilia cuprina Wied., le nombre d'ovarioles, et ainsi le nombre maximum d'oeufs développés au cours de chaque cycle ovarien, est une fonction linéaire de la taille de l'adulte (largeur de la tête). La largeur moyenne de la tête des femelles de la nature est 3 mm (2,3 à 3,5) et la fécondité potentielle moyenne par cycle de 232 oeufs (111 à 318). La fécondité réelle est influencée par la qualité et la quantité de protéines dans le régime alimentaire. Toutes les femelles de la nature semblent avoir les mêmes exigences minimales en protéines pour la maturation des ovocytes, c'est à dire que quelle que soit leur taille (fécondité potentielle) les femelles doivent obtenir les protéines suffisantes à la formation d'au moins 110 ovocytes pour devenir gravides. Les femelles dont l'absorption de protéines dépasse ce minimum, mais est insuffisant pour permettre la maturation de la totalité de leurs ovocytes, en résorbent quelques uns et conduisent à maturité le reste. Puisque la fécondité potentielle augmente avec la taille des mouches, les grosses femelles résorbent plus d'ovocytes que les petites avec un régime suboptimal en protéines, c'est à dire que la proportion d'ovocytes résorbés augmente avec la taille des mouches. Dans les conditions de la nature, la totalité des ovocytes parvient rarement à maturité, ce qui indique une limitation générale en aliments riches en protéines. La réduction moyenne de la fécondité chez les femelles de la nature a été au cours de cette étude de 53,4 oeufs par cycle (23,2%).
The pattern of feeding is described for males of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina, with ad libitum access to either 0.1 M or 1.0 M glucose solution. Flies given the 0.1 M solution ingested nearly 3 times the volume taken by flies given the 1 .O M solution by eating meals of, on average, twice the size about 1.5 times as frequently. Flies were usually relatively inactive following a meal, with the extent of this post-prandial quiescence being a function both of meal size and concentration of sugar. Quiescence lasted only about 20% of the average intermeal interval, however, and there was no correlation between meal size and time to the next meal. The crop emptied more slowly when it contained 1.0 M rather than 0.1 M glucose solution and the crop was, on average, fuller at the beginning of a meal on the higher concentration. The volume of solution imbibed during a meal was positively correlated with time since the end of the preceding meal. The average crop volume at the end of a meal was similar in flies feeding on 0.1 M and 1.0 M solutions. The results are considered in relation to published information on control of feeding and compensation in the blowfly Phormia regina.
Quantitative relationships between the ingestion of protein-rich material and ovarian development in the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Wied.)The mature ovaries accounted for about 25% of dry weight and 30% of the protein content of wild-type (anautogenous) females of L. cuprina which had fed ad lib. on liver. The protein content of gravid females was 50% greater than at emergence. Protein ingested during the adult stage, therefore, plays an important role in ovarian maturation. The protein content of the ovaries of females fed measured amounts of liver exudate was from 37 to 52% of the amount of protein ingested.Only limited ovarian development occurred in females fed only protein (high MW fraction of liver exudate or bovine serum albumin). The presence, in addition, of low MW components (low MW fraction of liver exudate or a salt mixture) was necessary for ovarian maturation. Quantitative feeding showed that the high and low MW fractions of liver exudate were, respectively, superior to bovine serum albumin and the salt mixture, which was based on the cation analysis of the low MW fraction of the exudate. ovarian development; Lucilia cuprina; ovarian protein; nutritional requirement for ovarian development INTRODUCTION
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