Chronobiological Effect on the Reproductive Behavior of Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Journal
Journal of medical entomology
Journal Volume
59
Journal Issue
1
Pages
135-146
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Chen F.-H
Abstract
The most widely used entomological method of determining the time since death (minimum postmortem interval, mPMI) has been calculating the developmental time of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on the deceased body. However, because blow flies are known to be diurnal, nocturnal oviposition has been excluded from standard mPMI calculations. This has been challenged by recent studies demonstrating nocturnal oviposition due to an unknown reason. Therefore, this study investigated the role of chronobiology. We recorded the locomotion amount and pattern of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) under different chronobiological conditions and examined whether Ch. megacephala can oviposit under nighttime conditions in field and laboratory settings. Subjects were found to have a daily activity pattern under normal darkness conditions (12:12 L:D) and under continuous darkness (DD), but they exhibited no pattern under continuous light (LL). Free-running period was approximately 1,341 min/d (22.35 h/d). In the field, no flies were observed during nighttime. Oviposition occurred in the laboratory setting during daytime with no lights and during nighttime with artificial lights. Free-running subjects oviposited in both active and resting periods, with more eggs laid during active than resting periods. The result of this study indicates it is possible to induce oviposition behavior during evening hours on Ch. megacephala. However, this was only observed in the laboratory setting and could only happen during the flies' subjective day. ? The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Subjects
circadian rhythm
forensic entomology
nocturnal oviposition
Oriental latrine fly
animal
Calliphoridae
egg laying
female
forensic science
male
physiology
sexual behavior
Animals
Circadian Rhythm
Female
Forensic Sciences
Male
Oviposition
Sexual Behavior, Animal
Type
journal article