Evidence of active aggregation behaviour in Lucilia sericata larvae and possible implication of a conspecific mark

Boulay, Julien; Devigne, Cédric; Gosset, D.; Charabidzé, Damien

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2013.03.005

Cited by 26 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…This number of insects was previously shown to be sufficient to allow aggregation (Boulay et al, 2013), yet small enough to prevent larvalmass effect and thus heat emission (Charabidz e et al, 2011;Heaton et al, 2014). This number of insects was previously shown to be sufficient to allow aggregation (Boulay et al, 2013), yet small enough to prevent larvalmass effect and thus heat emission (Charabidz e et al, 2011;Heaton et al, 2014).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Thermoregulation in gregarious dipteran larvae: evidence of species‐specific temperature selection

Aubernon

Boulay

Hédouin

et al. 2016

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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Due to the ephemeral nature of carcasses they grow on, necrophagous blowfly larvae should minimize the time spent on the cadaver. This could be achieved by moving to high-temperature areas. On that basis, we theorized that larvae placed in a heterogeneous thermal environment would move to the higher temperature that speed up their development. This study was designed to (1) test the ability of necrophagous larvae to orientate in a heterogeneous thermal environment, and (2) compare the temperatures selected by the larvae of three common blowfly species: Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Calliphora vomitoria (L.) and Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy). For this purpose, we designed a setup we named Thermograde. It consists of a food-supplied linear thermal gradient that allows larvae to move, feed, and grow in close-to-real conditions, and to choose to stay at a given temperature. For each species and replication, 80 young third instars were placed on the thermal gradient. The location of larvae was observed after 19 h, with fifteen replications per species. The larvae of each species formed aggregations that were always located at the same temperatures, which were highly species-specific: 33.3 AE 1.52°C for L. sericata, 29.6 AE 1.63°C for C. vomitoria, and 22.4 AE 1.55°C for C. vicina. According to the literature, these value allows a fast development of the larvae, but not to reach the maximum development rate. As control experiments clearly demonstrate that larval distribution was not due to differences in food quality, we hypothesized that the local temperature selection by larvae may result from a trade-off between development quality and duration. Indeed, temperature controls not only the development rate of the larvae, but also the quality of their growth and survival rate. Finally, results raise questions regarding the way larvae moved on the gradient and located their preferential temperature.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Thermoregulation in gregarious dipteran larvae: evidence of species‐specific temperature selection

Aubernon

Boulay

Hédouin

et al. 2016

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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“…Active aggregation behavior is also a characteristic of L. sericata larvae, which can form large masses gathering several thousands of larvae (Boulay et al ., , ). Feeding within an aggregate releases enzymes and ammonia, which allow the larvae to externally predigest the food (Tsubaki & Shiotsu, ; Fitzgerald & Peterson, ; Rivers et al ., ; Wilson et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, according to field observations, thermal regulation behavior, such as movement between a hot food spot and colder areas, was also postulated. Because aggregation and larval‐mass cohesion is mediated by conspecific signals (Boulay et al ., , ), we also investigated the effect of the previous conspecific activity in the food. To test these hypotheses, single, starved third instar larvae were placed at an ambient temperature of 25 °C in a Petri dish that contained 1 food spot (mixed beef liver, marked or unmarked by conspecifics) heated to a constant temperature of 25 °C (control), 34 °C or 38 °C.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

To eat or get heat: Behavioral trade‐offs between thermoregulation and feeding in gregarious necrophagous larvae

et al. 2017

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The thermoregulation behavior of Lucilia sericata larvae (Diptera: Calliphoridae), a necrophagous species that feeds on vertebrate cadavers, was investigated. These larvae require high heat incomes to develop, and can elevate temperatures by forming large aggregates. We hypothesized that L. sericata larvae should continue to feed at temperatures up to 38 °C, which can be reached inside larval masses. Thermal regulation behavior such as movement between a hot food spot and colder areas was also postulated. The hypotheses were tested by tracking for 1 h the activity of single, starved third instar larvae in a Petri dish containing 1 food spot (FS) that was heated to a constant temperature of 25 °C, 34 °C or 38 °C with an ambient temperature of 25 °C. The influence of previous conspecific activity in the food on larval behavior was also tested. The crops of larvae were dissected to monitor food content in the digestive systems. Based on relative crop measurements, larvae fed at all food temperatures, but temperature strongly affected larval behavior and kinematics. The total time spent by larvae in FS and the duration of each stay decreased at high FS temperature. Previous activity of conspecifics in the food slightly increased the time spent by larvae in FS and also decreased the average distance to FS. Therefore, necrophagous L. sericata larvae likely thermoregulate during normal feeding activities by adjusting to local fluctuations in temperature, particularly inside maggot masses. By maintaining a steady internal body temperature, larvae likely reduce their development time.

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“…Aggregations of necrophagous larvae of various blowfly species have been extensively studied, particularly in the forensic entomology literature [21,22], but never under laboratory conditions. Recently, Boulay et al [23] demonstrated that aggregations of the blowfly Lucilia sericata are active and associated with the chemical cues given. Rivers et al [21] inventoried the potential benefits of maggot masses, such as heat generation ('larvalmass effect') [22] and cooperation for the liquefaction of food and assimilation (exodigestion) [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interspecific shared collective decision-making in two forensically important species

et al. 2016

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To date, the study of collective behaviour has mainly focused on intraspecific situations: the collective decision-making of mixed-species groups involving interspecific aggregation-segregation has received little attention. Here, we show that, in both conspecific and heterospecific groups, the larvae of two species (Lucilia sericata and Calliphora vomitoria, calliphorid carrion-feeding flies) were able to make a collective choice. In all groups, the choice was made within a few minutes and persisted throughout the period of the experiment. The monitoring of a focal individual within a group showed that these aggregations were governed by attractive and retentive effects of the group. Furthermore, the similarity observed between the conspecific and heterospecific groups suggested the existence of shared aggregation signals. The group size was found to have a stronger influence than the species of necrophagous larvae. These results should be viewed in relation to the well-known correlation between group size and heat generation. This study provides the first experimental examination of the dynamics of collective decision-making in mixed-species groups of invertebrates, contributing to our understanding of the cooperation-competition phenomenon in animal social groups.

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Evidence of active aggregation behaviour in Lucilia sericata larvae and possible implication of a conspecific mark

Cited by 26 publications

References 41 publications

Thermoregulation in gregarious dipteran larvae: evidence of species‐specific temperature selection

Thermoregulation in gregarious dipteran larvae: evidence of species‐specific temperature selection

To eat or get heat: Behavioral trade‐offs between thermoregulation and feeding in gregarious necrophagous larvae

Interspecific shared collective decision-making in two forensically important species

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