Do protein-limited female Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) obtain a nutritional benefit from mating?
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1995
Journal Title
Physiological Entomology
ISSN
ISSN: 0307-6962, eISSN: 1365-3032
Keywords
Mating, Lucilia cuprina, blowfly, protein, ovarian development, Calliphoridae, accessory glands, anautogenous
Disciplines
Entomology
Abstract
Cohorts of adult female Lucilia cuprina Wiedemann (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were fed a single 5 μl droplet of liver exudate after which half the females were allowed to mate and the other half left as virgins. Females were housed individually with water and sucrose for between 4 and 7 days after mating. Females were dissected to record the level of ovarian development and the size of their primary oocytes. Mating did not give protein-limited females any significant nutritional benefit in terms of either increased oocyte development, yolk deposition or oocyte size. Hence, it is concluded that male L.cuprina do not provide females at mating with any obvious material benefits beyond their sperm.
Recommended Citation
Cook, D F.
(1995), Do protein-limited female Lucilia cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) obtain a nutritional benefit from mating?. Physiological Entomology, 20 (3), 209-212.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/j_article/103
