The weight and viability of puparia ofGlossina austeniin relation to the conditions provided for pupal development

Abstract

An estimate was made of the mean weight on pupation of wild puparia of Glossina austeni, based on a study of weight loss during pupal life. From this it would seem that the mean weight of first-generation laboratory-bred puparia is 4 mgm. (or 17%) below normal. The loss among subsequent generations is relatively very small. It was suspected that the weight on pupation and the subsequent weight loss during the pupal period might be adversely influenced by failure to simulate the natural environment for pupal development. The provision of different pupation media, however, failed to affect the mean weight either on pupation or by mid-pupal life. A negligible pupal mortality was achieved by allowing the larvae to burrow into dry sand which was kept at a high humidity; none of the media tested, however, significantly lowered the percentage of non-viable emergents. The pupal mortality among cage-floor-deposited puparia buried in wet sand that had been allowed to dry out was double that of similar puparia buried in dry sand suspended over wet sand.