Journal of Insect Behavior (2005) 18, 543-555

Carolina Reigada and Wesley Augusto C. Godoy (2005)
Dispersal and predation behavior in larvae of Chrysomya albiceps and Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Journal of Insect Behavior 18 (4), 543-555
Abstract: Chrysomya albiceps and Chrysomya megacephala are exotic blowfly species known by producing myiasis in humans and other animals and by transmitting pathogens mechanically. C. albiceps stand out by being a facultative predator of other dipteran larvae. In this paper we investigated the influence of larval predation on the dispersal of larvae of C. albiceps and C. megacephala single and double species for three photophases. An experimental acrylic channel graduated and covered with wood shavings was used to observe the larval dispersal. The results showed that C. albiceps attacks C. megacephala larvae during dispersal and keeps an aggregated pattern close to the release point, in single and double species, independently of the different photophases. Chrysomya megacephala single species exhibited the same pattern, but in double species this was changed to a random distribution.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Wesley Augusto C. Godoy, Carolina Reigada

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
environment - cropping system/rotation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Chrysomya megacephala (med./veter. pest)