Variations in the Size and Reproductive Capacity of Wild-Type and Laboratory-Adapted Populations of the Screw-Worm Fly1

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Abstract
As measured by mature larval weight, adult body size, adult longevity, and reproductive capacity, a population of laboratory-adapted Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) differed from a population of wild-type flies. At maturity, larvae of wild-type flies averaged 90.5 mg; larvae of laboratory-adapted populations weighed about 73 mg. Wildtype flies, considered representative of native populations, were thus larger and also produced more eggs per egg mass. However, wild-type males mated less frequently than laboratory-adapted males. Aside from the implication of ecological differences, these examples are sufficient to indicate the hazards of ascribing group characteristics of any laboratory-adapted screw-worm flies to native populations. Until we have more information, we must consider laboratory-adapted male flies that fall within size-classes of screw-worm flies infrequently found in nature as unsuitable for sterile-male releases.

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