Protein requirements for oogenesis in the Australian bush fly, Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

AbstractFemales of Musca vetustissima Walker in the first ovarian cycle and of a wide range of body size were fed a range of measured quantities of protein-rich liver exudate. For a given amount of exudate, a greater proportion of large flies than of small ones matured oocytes; for a given size of fly, the proportion that matured oocytes increased with the amount of exudate ingested. Additionally, large flies matured more oocytes on less exudate than did small flies, which had fewer ovarioles.