Do Australian Sheep Blowflies, Lucilia Cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Breed in Either Goat or Sheep Carcasses in a Semi-Arid Environment?

Abstract

Feral goat and sheep carcasses were exposed to insect attack on semi-arid pastoral land each month for one year. The native calliphorids Chrysomya rujifacies and Ch. varipes were by far the most abundant species de.veloping in virtually all carcasses. Sheep blowflies (L. cuprina) were incapable of developing from egg to adult on either feral goat or sheep carcasses during any month. Bush flies (Musca vetustissima) emerged from both feral goat and sheep carcasses from January to May, particularly from the gut contents. Chrysomya species were trapped in all months except June, whereas L. cuprina adults were only trapped from September to December. L. cuprina and Ch. rujifacies adults are very similar in appearance, hence many pastoralists assume that green blowflies on feral goat carcasses are sheep blowflies. However, this study clearly shows that L. cuprina are unable to complete their life cycle on either feral goat or sheep carcasses in the semi-arid environment of Carnarvon, Western Australia.