The immature stages of the Old-World screw-worm fly, Chrysomya bezziana villeneuve, with comparative notes on other australasian species of Chrysomya (Diptera, Calliphoridae)

Abstract

The eggs, three larval instars and puparia of Chrysomya bezziana Villeneuve are described and illustrated in detail by scanning electron micrographs. Particular attention is paid to the extent and nature of the median strip in the eggs and the spine bands and spiracular structures in the larvae and puparia.Eggs and third-instar larvae of five other species of Chrysomya, C. nigripes Aubertin, C. varipes (Macquart), C. rufifacies (Macquart), C. saffranea (Bigot) and C. megacephala (F.), are illustrated, described and compared with C. bezziana and each other by means of keys, which also permit their identification. In addition, notes on the puparia of these species are provided.