1978 Volume 29 Issue 2 Pages 125-132
The effects of temperature on the development of larval and pupal stages, the interspecies competition in larvae, and the effects of temperature on the fecundity of three species of fleshflies, B. peregrina, P. similis and P. crassipalpis, were studied under the laboratory conditions. The larvae were reared on minced beef, and adults were fed on milk and 2% sucrose solution. Minced beef was given as a larviposition medium. The results were obtained as follows : 1. The length of larval stage was shorter than that of pupal stage in all species. The length of development from the larva to adult emergence, was shortest in P. similis, followed by B. peregrina and P. crassipalpis. 2. The calculated developmental zero points and accumulated thermal constants of the larval and pupal stages in three species are shown in Table 2. 3. The notable differences of the body weight of these pupae were observed when the larvae were reared under 20℃. The pupal weight of P. crassipalpis was about two times as that of B. peregrina. 4. Two species were introduced into the breeding medium at different rates, and three combinations of flies were set up to interact. The competition was estimated from the difference of percents of adult emergence between two species. With the increased number of B. peregrina, the percent of adult emergence of P. similis decreased. Similarly, with the increased number of P. similis, the percent of adult emergence of P. crassipalpis decreased. 5. The favourable temperatures for fecundity lay at 25℃ in B. peregrina, between 20 and 30℃ in P. similis, and between 25 and 30℃ in P. crassipalpis, B. peregrina proved to be superior in the reproduction, capacity to the other two species.
