How photoperiods affect the immature development of forensically important blowfly species Chrysomya albiceps (Calliphoridae).

The purpose of this study was to verify the influence of different photoperiods on larval body weight, post-embryonic development, and viability of Chrysomya albiceps. The bioassays were performed in acclimatized chamber at 27 ± 1 °C and 60 ± 10 % relative humidity regulated by three different light and dark cycles for a period of 24 h-12:12, 24:00, and 00:24. Four replications with 50 newly hatched larvae each were used per photoperiod. The larvae were placed in container containing bovine ground meat (50 g). When mature larvae spontaneously abandoned the diet, they were individually weighed and separated into glass tubes until emergence. The larvae that did not abandon the diet were not weighed. The larvae from 24 h of photophase did not abandon the diet and pupated inside, so these larvae were not weighed and the larval and pupal developments were not registered. The mean of larval body weight did not vary between the 24 h scotophase and 12 h photophase. The mean duration of larval developmental time varied significantly when comparing the 24 h scotophase and the 12 h photophase, and the pupal developmental time also varied for the same photoperiods; in both stages, the duration of development was faster in the 24 h scotophase. The developmental time of neo-larvae to adult was verified in all photoperiods and gradually increased as photophase increased. There was a trend to augment of viability with the reduction of photophase length.