IV. The Indirect Effect of Temperature and Humidity acting through certain Competing Species of Blow-Flies
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 April 2009
The comparative resistance to high temperature and various humidities of four species of blow-flies, Calliphora erythrocephala Meig., Lucilia sericata Meig., Sarcophaga falculata Pand. and Phormia groenlandica Zett. is studied. It is shown that Phormia groenlandica is the most resistant species and Calliphora erythrocephala the least resistant species, with Lucilia sericata and Sarcophaga falculata occypying an intermediate position.
This order of resistance is correlated negatively with the order of the seasonal succession of the species.
It is suggested that certain differences in the length of life of males and females subjected to various humidities is brought about by an “ageing” factor.