Relationship between protein ingestion and sexual receptivity in females of the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina

The receptivity of females of Luciliu cuprina to mating attempts is increased by protein feeding. Females became maximally receptive after consuming a quantity of protein which was insufficient to allow full ovarian development in any individual, and which was 25 % of that needed to produce full ovarian development in most flies. Receptivity increased progressively over 3 days following a protein meal taken on the day after emergence, but was almost maximal within 24 h when females were given a protein meal on the fifth day after emergence. Topical application of the insect growth regulator Altosid caused a marked increase in the sexual receptivity of non-protein fed females.