Effects of temperature on the development and abundance of the sheep blowflyLucilia sericata(Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

The effects of ambient temperature on all component life cycle stages of the sheep blowflyLucilia sericataMeigen were examined under controlled conditions. The critical base temperatures and the number of day-degrees required for completion of each stage were determined. Using these data a simple simulation model was developed to evaluate temperature effects on the seasonal pattern ofL. sericataabundance. The number of flies estimated by the model to be available for capture, together with the temperature over each capture period determining adult activity levels, were able to account for77%of the variance inL. sericataabundance observed over a season.