Measurement of feeding threshold in the blowfly Phormia regina Meigen

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Abstract
The waxed-stick mounting method for threshold determinations produces a high mortality rate in long-term experiments. A mounting process which allows the experimental flies to be returned to a holding cage after testing, eliminating this mortality effect, is described.Some traditional methods of threshold measurement incorporate a bias owing to adaptation effects. An experimental procedure, with an appropriate statistical test, is described to avoid such adaptation effects in the determination of threshold. Feeding threshold is high after ecdysis. The time taken for the threshold for a particular sugar to reach a basal level appears to be inversely proportional to the absolute stimulating power of the sugar. The high postecdysis threshold and its subsequent slow decline appear to be associated with the air swallowed as part of the ecdysis process. The basal thresholds recorded are in agreement with those indicated in the literature.