A method of age determination in Lucilia cuprina (Wied.) (Diptera, Calliphoridae) using cyclic changes in the female reproductive system

Abstract

The stage of egg formation and density of follicular relics enable Lucilia cuprina (Wied.) females to be sorted into 16 ovarian stages, covering the period from emergence to the beginning of the fourth ovarian cycle. The correspondence between the actual age of a fly and its stage of ovarian development was determined at constant temperatures. Where developmental delays were absent, " reproductive age" gave reliable estimates of actual age under both constant and fluctuating temperature regimes. In the field protein shortages and lack of oviposition sites may prolong the time required to complete each ovarian cycle, and flies will be older than their ovaries would indicate. In practice the ovarian stages described provide estimates of minimum age for L. cuprina females.

Gonotrophic Development in Hypoderma lineatum and H. bovis (Diptera: Oestridae), with Notes on Reproductive Capacity

“…Larvae of H. lineatum that emerged from the backs of cattle were collected and held in an incubator in 50-60% RH Vogt et al (1974) for Phaenicia (=Lucilia) cuprina (Wiedemann). Representative samples of ovaries were photographed and assigned to age classes by the method described by Scholl (1980) for the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.).…”

“…Evstaf' ev (1982) Increased use of modeling of insect populations, including Hypoderma, has created a need for more accurate measurements of reproductive capacity and a description of the gonotrophic cycle leading to oviposition for these two species (Weintraub 1978). Here we address this need, using a technique described for gonotrophic development in other Diptera (Vogt et al 1974, Scholl 1980.…”

OVARIAN ULTRASTRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE BLOW FLY, Chrysomya megacephala (DIPTERA: CALLIPHORIDAE)

“…The ovarioles of C. megacephala are of the polytrophic ovariole type [24]. The characterization of each stage of ovariole maturation was conducted in a similar manner to the way in which these stages have been outlined in other blow fly species, such as Lucilia cuprina [25,26], C. bezziana [13], C. hominivorax [14], Chrysomya putoria [27] and Chrysomya albiceps [28]. The correspondence between the classifications used to describe the stages of ovarian development of C. megacephala (Fig.…”

Seedcorn Maggot (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) Reproductive Biology and Techniques for Examining Ovarian Dynamics

“…A 17-class ovarian development system, based on parity and the degree of vitellogenesis, was constructed for Musca vetustissima Walker (TyndaleBiscoe and Hughes 1969). A similar scheme, using 16 ovarian stages, has been developed for Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Vogt et al 1974).…”

“…Some authors (Anderson 1964, Vogt et al 1974, Woodburn et al 1978 have pointed out that times associated with ovarian developmental stages usually represented minimum ages. Ovarian development may be delayed by cool temperatures or by nutritional deficiencies, specifically, the lack of a protein meal.…”