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The blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) provide an ideal
system to investigate CHC development in the context of sexual
maturation. Many species show a substantial delay in sexual
maturation, whereby, following eclosion, males mature
within two to four days (Bartell et al. 1969; Mackerras
1933). By contrast, females can take anywhere from three to
12 days to mature and often require a protein meal to complete
ovarian development (Bartell et al. 1969; Browne et al. 1976;
Laurence 1988; Mackerras 1933; Norris 1959). Additionally,
a substantial body of work has shown that, as is the case in
Drosophila melanogaster, CHCs change drastically over the
lifespan of adult blowflies, often coinciding with the onset of
sexual maturity (Bernhardt et al. 2017; Braga et al. 2016;
Roux et al. 2008; Pechal et al. 2014; Trabalon et al. 1992).
However, this work has taken place primarily in the context of
forensic science, with little consideration given to the selective
pressures driving the relationship between CHC development
and sexual maturity. The present study addresses this knowledge
gap using the small hairy maggot blowfly Chrysomya
varipes as a model system. In this Australasian species, there
is strong sexual selection by females (suggesting high costs
associated with female mating), and male courtship behaviour
is highly complex and stereotyped (Jones et al. 2014; Jones
et al. 2017). Females exhibit a prolonged pre-reproductive
adult phase, taking approximately seven days post-eclosion
to become sexually receptive (Jones et al. 2014; Jones et al.
2017) in contrast to three to four days in males (personal
observation). We expect that given the high costs associated
with female mating, avoiding premature mating attempts by
signalling sexual maturity is likely to be particularly important
in this species. Subsequently, we predict that stark changes in
CHC expression will coincide with sexual maturity in this
blowfly and that rates of CHC development will be sex-specific,
occurring more slowly in females and in line with the
prolonged female pre-reproductive adult phase.
traduzir ao portugues
The blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) provide an ideal
system to investigate CHC development in the context of sexual
maturation. Many species show a substantial delay in sexual
maturation, whereby, following eclosion, males mature
within two to four days (Bartell et al. 1969; Mackerras
1933). By contrast, females can take anywhere from three to
12 days to mature and often require a protein meal to complete
ovarian development (Bartell et al. 1969; Browne et al. 1976;
Laurence 1988; Mackerras 1933; Norris 1959). Additionally,
a substantial body of work has shown that, as is the case in
Drosophila melanogaster, CHCs change drastically over the
lifespan of adult blowflies, often coinciding with the onset of
sexual maturity (Bernhardt et al. 2017; Braga et al. 2016;
Roux et al. 2008; Pechal et al. 2014; Trabalon et al. 1992).
However, this work has taken place primarily in the context of
forensic science, with little consideration given to the selective
pressures driving the relationship between CHC development
and sexual maturity. The present study addresses this knowledge
gap using the small hairy maggot blowfly Chrysomya
varipes as a model system. In this Australasian species, there
is strong sexual selection by females (suggesting high costs
associated with female mating), and male courtship behaviour
is highly complex and stereotyped (Jones et al. 2014; Jones
et al. 2017). Females exhibit a prolonged pre-reproductive
adult phase, taking approximately seven days post-eclosion
to become sexually receptive (Jones et al. 2014; Jones et al.
2017) in contrast to three to four days in males (personal
observation). We expect that given the high costs associated
with female mating, avoiding premature mating attempts by
signalling sexual maturity is likely to be particularly important
in this species. Subsequently, we predict that stark changes in
CHC expression will coincide with sexual maturity in this
blowfly and that rates of CHC development will be sex-specific,
occurring more slowly in females and in line with the
prolonged female pre-reproductive adult phase.