High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen)
The temperature dependent development rates of blow flies allow blow flies to be used as biological clocks in forensic death investigations. However, the upper thermal limits of adult survival and oviposition, both required for producing larvae, remains largely unknown. Therefore, in this study we e...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/11/991 |
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| author | Michael A. Monzon Lauren M. Weidner Travis W. Rusch Selen Nehrozoglu George Hamilton |
| author_facet | Michael A. Monzon Lauren M. Weidner Travis W. Rusch Selen Nehrozoglu George Hamilton |
| author_sort | Michael A. Monzon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The temperature dependent development rates of blow flies allow blow flies to be used as biological clocks in forensic death investigations. However, the upper thermal limits of adult survival and oviposition, both required for producing larvae, remains largely unknown. Therefore, in this study we examined the impact of a range of temperatures between 37 °C and 44 °C on the likelihood of survival and egg-laying behavior of two species of medicolegal forensic importance, <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) and <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). To quantify the upper temperature limits of survival, adult fly colonies were exposed to 37 °C, 41 °C, 42 °C, 43 °C, and 44 °C for 24 h. Similarly for oviposition trials, adults of both species were exposed to 40 °C, 42 °C, and 43 °C with <i>P. regina</i> oviposition also observed at 41 °C. Trials lasted for 24 h with oviposition substrate replenished at the 12 h mark. A yes/no determination on egg deposition was made, eggs were counted, and a yes/no determination was made on egg hatch. Survival did not differ by species (<i>p</i> = 0.096). Overall, survival decreased with increasing temperatures, with ~100% at 37 °C, ~50% at 41 °C, ~37% at 42 °C, ~15% at 43 °C and 0% at 44 °C. <i>Lucilia sericata</i> laid eggs capable of hatch up to 43 °C, while <i>Phormia regina</i> egg-hatch was observed up to 41 °C. These results indicate a greater thermal tolerance of adult survival than for egg deposition and successful egg hatch, which supports previous experiments indicating blow flies stop laying eggs at sub-lethal temperatures. Furthermore, these data indicate that adult blow flies may find remains at or near time of death but may delay egg deposition until temperatures drop below an acceptable threshold. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:59:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea91991221cb48a994aad3ab8ab313862023-11-24T05:13:08ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502022-10-01131199110.3390/insects13110991High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen)Michael A. Monzon0Lauren M. Weidner1Travis W. Rusch2Selen Nehrozoglu3George Hamilton4Department of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USASchool of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306, USASchool of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USAAnimal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)—Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), United Stated Department of Agriculture (USDA), Linden, NJ 07036, USADepartment of Entomology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USAThe temperature dependent development rates of blow flies allow blow flies to be used as biological clocks in forensic death investigations. However, the upper thermal limits of adult survival and oviposition, both required for producing larvae, remains largely unknown. Therefore, in this study we examined the impact of a range of temperatures between 37 °C and 44 °C on the likelihood of survival and egg-laying behavior of two species of medicolegal forensic importance, <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) and <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). To quantify the upper temperature limits of survival, adult fly colonies were exposed to 37 °C, 41 °C, 42 °C, 43 °C, and 44 °C for 24 h. Similarly for oviposition trials, adults of both species were exposed to 40 °C, 42 °C, and 43 °C with <i>P. regina</i> oviposition also observed at 41 °C. Trials lasted for 24 h with oviposition substrate replenished at the 12 h mark. A yes/no determination on egg deposition was made, eggs were counted, and a yes/no determination was made on egg hatch. Survival did not differ by species (<i>p</i> = 0.096). Overall, survival decreased with increasing temperatures, with ~100% at 37 °C, ~50% at 41 °C, ~37% at 42 °C, ~15% at 43 °C and 0% at 44 °C. <i>Lucilia sericata</i> laid eggs capable of hatch up to 43 °C, while <i>Phormia regina</i> egg-hatch was observed up to 41 °C. These results indicate a greater thermal tolerance of adult survival than for egg deposition and successful egg hatch, which supports previous experiments indicating blow flies stop laying eggs at sub-lethal temperatures. Furthermore, these data indicate that adult blow flies may find remains at or near time of death but may delay egg deposition until temperatures drop below an acceptable threshold.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/11/991thermal biologysurvivorshipovipositionmortalityfecundity |
| spellingShingle | Michael A. Monzon Lauren M. Weidner Travis W. Rusch Selen Nehrozoglu George Hamilton High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) Insects thermal biology survivorship oviposition mortality fecundity |
| title | High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) |
| title_full | High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) |
| title_fullStr | High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) |
| title_short | High Temperature Limits of Survival and Oviposition of <i>Phormia regina</i> (Meigen) and <i>Lucilia sericata</i> (Meigen) |
| title_sort | high temperature limits of survival and oviposition of i phormia regina i meigen and i lucilia sericata i meigen |
| topic | thermal biology survivorship oviposition mortality fecundity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/13/11/991 |
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