title: Effects of environmental temperature on oviposition behavior in three blow fly species of forensic importance.
abstract: A number of factors are known to affect blow fly behavior with respect to oviposition. Current research indicates that temperature is the most significant factor. However temperature thresholds for oviposition in forensically important blow flies have not been well studied. Here, the oviposition behavior of three species of forensically important blow fly species (Calliphora vicina, Calliphora vomitoria and Lucilia sericata,) was studied under controlled laboratory conditions over a range of temperatures (10-40°C). Lower temperature thresholds for oviposition of 16°C and 17.5°C were established for C. vomitoria and L. sericata respectively, whilst C. vicina continued to lay eggs at 10°C. C. vomitoria and L. sericata both continued to lay eggs at 40°C, whilst the highest temperature at which oviposition occurred in C. vicina was 35°C. Within these thresholds there was considerable variation in the number of surviving pupae, with a general pattern of a single peak within the range of temperatures at which eggs were laid, but with the pattern being much less distinct for L. sericata.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Kedleston Road DE22 1HE, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ody
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Kedleston Road DE22 1HE, UK.
authors.forename: Mark T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bulling
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Kedleston Road DE22 1HE, UK. Electronic address: K.Barnes1@derby.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kate M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Barnes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D004772:Entomology; D005260:Female; D044707:Forensic Sciences; D016014:Linear Models; D010058:Oviposition / Q000502:physiology*; D011679:Pupa; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Calliphora; Calliphoridae; Forensic entomology; Lucilia; Minimum post-mortem interval