Date of Award
2015
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
blow fly, burnt remains, fire, fitness, ovipositio
Supervisor
VanLaerhoven, Shera
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Two local blow fly species, Lucilia sericata Meigen and Phormia regina Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were used to investigate the effects of burnt carrion on the oviposition behaviour of females and the survival and performance of larvae feeding on these remains. Burnt carrion may be encountered after homicides and forest fires. Increased levels of flame impingement leads to the presence of cracks in the skin and these sites may be suitable for blow fly oviposition. Both species demonstrated a preference for the cracks as oviposition sites. Phormia regina laid more eggs at the cracks, but L. sericata deposited more eggs on the head. Larval survivorship increased with increased flame impingement, despite a significant loss of consumable resource. The performance of the larvae was not affected by the severity of flame impingement, however, both species responded positively to interspecific interactions on burnt remains, resulting in larger adult blow flies.
Recommended Citation
Pacheco, Vincenzo Antonio, "Served medium rare: the effect of burnt remains on oviposition, survival and fitness of the local blow fly (Diptera: Calliphoridae) community" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5288.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/5288