Factors Determining the Predominance of Lucilia Cuprina Larvae in Blowfly Strikes of Sheep in Southern New South Wales

Sheep that were either scouring or carrying recently induced strikes were exposed to flies in the field. In both cases, 99% of mature larvae produced from natural oviposition were Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann). Mean survival from egg to mature larva was only 17% for eggs of this species laid on the scouring sheep, but 70% survived to maturity on the sheep with pre‐existing strikes. Of blowflies landing on the struck sheep 61% were L. cuprina, but this species accounted for 96% of all oviposition by blowflies.