The Influence of Temperature on the Activity of Sheep-Blowflies

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Abstract
1. Quantitative methods of recording the activity of blowflies are described.2. With constant temperatures the greatest activity occurs near the centre of the temperature range, whereas with rising temperature it immediately precedes the upper thermal death-point.3. Rising temperature causes activity to occur at a lower range of temperatures than does constant temperature.4. Rising temperature causes the appearance of “distress activity” at high temperatures, but constant temperature does not.5. For the development of the necessary energy for full crawling and flight activity at the most favourable temperatures, rather long exposure to these temperatures is necessary.6. Flight and, to a lesser extent, crawling occur in bursts of activity whether the temperature is rising or constant.7. Differences in the reactions to temperature of the closely related species Lucilia cuprina and L. sericata are very distinct.8. The curves for general activity and temperature preference correspond to the known distribution of the four species examined.9. Frequency of regurgitation is definitely associated with high temperature.10. There are strong indications that the conditions of the experiment were suitable for the flight of L. cuprina but unsuitable for that of the other species examined. This may have been due to the lack of bright sunlight, or to the confined space of the observation-jars.11. It is shown that activity is a complex phenomenon, and that the character of the results obtained is influenced by the kind of activity examined, by the methods of measurement used, and by the nature of the temperature conditions to which the insects are exposed.