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The role of medium conditioning in the population dynamics of the housefly
Author(s) -
Bryant Edwin H.,
Hall Augusta E.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/bf02511059
Subject(s) - housefly , musca , larva , biology , hatching , conditioning , zoology , overcrowding , toxicology , population , population density , ecology , demography , statistics , mathematics , sociology , economics , economic growth
Summary The role of larval medium conditioning on the behavior of larvae and of ovipositing adults of the housefly, Musca domestica L., was investigated through behavioral preference tests. Larvae were strongly attracted to medium conditioned by themselves or other larvae, while adult females overwhelmingly oviposited in fresh medium. Medium conditioning occurs within a few hours after hatching of an egg cohort and is effective in preventing overcrowding of a single site by shutting off further oviposition within 24 hours after eggs are initially deposited. A model of medium conditioning optimizes density for developing larvae and could also provide for regulation of local larval populations.