Laboratory Observations on the Teneral Period in Sheep Blowflies, Lucilia Cuprina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

The teneral period following emergence is defined for Lucilia cuprina in terms of activity measured using electronic actographs, volume of thoracic flight muscle, and the area of flight muscle attachment on the endo‐skeletal mesothoracic post‐phragmata. All three quantities are highly inter‐correlated and show a rise to an asymptote following emergence. This pattern allows the teneral period at 26°C to be defined as the 3 days following emergence. The application of this figure to field situations is discussed and it is concluded that some care must be exercised in this respect. The most important conclusion emerging is that the teneral period may be identified using either behavioural or morphological characteristics, whichever is the more convenient.