Studies on the Mating Behavior of the Face Fly12

Abstract

The mating behavior of Musca autumnalis De Geer consisted of a sequence of events; a distinct precopulatory behavior, seizure, and copulation. However, the seizure may not result in copulation nor in sperm transfcr. Tcn percent of mated females were infertile. Although vision played some role in sex recognition, olfactory and tactile senses were both involved. Males and females started mating 36 and 48 hours after pupal eclosion, respectively. The optimum mating age of the face fly was 5-6 days. One male inseminated as many as 8 females during a 24-hour period; the average was 4. The average period of mating with sperm transfer was 66.2 minutes, with an observed range of 25-135 minutes. Sperm transfer did not occur until 4 minutes after copulation began. The sperm could be stored in the female spermathecae for 28 days after a single insemination. Though the face flies mated in the absence of light, the presence of light resulted in a significant increase in the number mated. Fly density and cage size, within the limits studied, appeared to have no effect on the frequency of mating. Deletion of blood from the fly diet for 5 generations did not adversely affect mating behavior.