Journal article

Publication year: 1987

Pages: 1-18

Journal: A Journal of Comparative Zoology

Volume number: 219

Issue number: 1-2

ISSN: 0044-5231

Publisher: Elsevier

Abstract: 
A method of rearing smaller and greater quantities of houseflies, Musca domestica L., is described. Under these rearing conditions the course of development takes 13 days, and 4 days after it the females begin with oviposition. During the first five days of larval development there will be a maximal extension of growth and a correlative increase in weight. Before pupation and also during the first days of pupation, a decrease in weight can be measured, which is followed again by an increase of weight during the second period of pupation. Under experimental osmotic stress in hypertonic rearing media the rate of mortality increases, an inhibition in development (growth, weight) during the early larval stages occurs and the total process of development is lengthened. The early disturbance in development is equalized during the third larval stage. The full-grown larvae are able to regulate their osmotic concentration of the haemolymph, which increases under experimental osmotic stress in hypertonic media, at the same time to the characteristic standard value of unloaded animals, too. Under these conditions the osmolality of the internal medium (haemolymph) will never reach the value of the external media, the osmoregulation is an extremely hypoosmotic one. - The tolerance for different concentrations of external osmotic stress, based on an increase of sea salt concentration in the rearing medium, on developmental processes is reached at 93,5.permill. S. In the case of a concentration-increase of single chloridsalts the tolerance will really be lower. The limitations of tolerance are very specific for the different salts having been tested. A distinct succession of decreasing tolerance can be measured as followed: KCl, NaCl, MgCl2, CaCl2. These experiments indicate, that the houseflies are able to maintain their characteristic osmotic concentration of the haemolymph constantly over a wide range of different environmental osmotic conditions. The results of our study are interpreted and discussed in relation to some aspects about osmoregulation of insects.

Harvard Citation style: SCHWANTES, P. and EICHELBERG, D. (1987) INVESTIGATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSCA-DOMESTICA L (DIPTERA) AND THE INFLUENCE OF INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL OSMOTIC CONDITIONS, A Journal of Comparative Zoology, 219(1-2), pp. 1-18

APA Citation style: SCHWANTES, P., & EICHELBERG, D. (1987). INVESTIGATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUSCA-DOMESTICA L (DIPTERA) AND THE INFLUENCE OF INCREASING ENVIRONMENTAL OSMOTIC CONDITIONS. A Journal of Comparative Zoology. 219(1-2), 1-18.