A new chitinase inhibitor, named argifin, was isolated from the cultured broth of a fungal strain FTD-0668. The strain was identified as Gliocladium sp. from morphological characteristics. The IC50 value of argifin against Lucilia cuprina chitinase was 3.7 microM. Argifin arrested the moult of cockroach larvae upon injection into the ventral abdominal part.

Embryos of Lucilia (Phaenicia) sericata (Meigen) (Diptera Calliphoridae), the green blowfly, were successfully cryopreserved by vitrification in liquid nitrogen and stored for 8 yr. Embryos incubated at 19 degrees C for 17 h after oviposition were found to be the most appropriate stage to cryopreserve. Removal of the embryonic surface water was done using 2-propanol before the alkane treatment ...

We describe here a rare case of traumatic myiasis occurred in August 2014, caused by an association of 2 Diptera species, Sarcophaga tibialis Macquart (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), in a domestic cat in northern Italy. Species identification was based on adult male morphology. The present case is the first report of S. tibialis as an agent of my...

Ion-selective calcium microelectrodes were inserted into the compound eyes of the wild-type sheep blowfly Lucilia or into the retina of the no steady state (ms) mutant of Lucilia. These electrodes monitored light-induced changes in the extracellular concentration of calcium (A[Ca2+]o) together with the extracellularly recorded receptor potential. Prolonged dim lights induced a steady reduction ...

To quantify the potential capability of transporting and passing infective pathogens of some blowflies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Mihályi's danger-index was calculated for seven species. The original equation was modified to include synanthropic information to discriminate between asynanthropic, hemisynanthropic, and eusynanthropic status. Three groups were recognized, of which Phaenicia cluvia ...

We announce a draft genome sequence of a Proteus mirabilis strain derived from Lucilia sericata salivary glands. This strain is demonstrated to attract and induce oviposition by L. sericata, a common blow fly important to medicine, agriculture, and forensics. The genome sequence will help dissect interkingdom communication between the species.

Wohlfahrtiimonas species bacteria were isolated from the bloodstream of a patient with septicemia and wound myiasis. Environmental investigations identified a Wohlfahrtiimonas sp. among insects in the Americas and in a previously undescribed vector, the green bottle fly (Lucilia sericata). The isolates possibly represent a new species within the genus Wohlfahrtiimonas.

Correct identification of forensically important insects, such as flies in the family Calliphoridae, is a crucial step for them to be used as evidence in legal investigations. Traditional identification based on morphology has been effective, but has some limitations when it comes to identifying immature stages of certain species. DNA-barcoding, using COI, has demonstrated potential for rapid a...

Larval therapy is a biological 'dressing' for chronic ulcers which is used for debridement, to initiate healing and to reduce bacteria and unpleasant odour. One condition for being able to employ larval therapy is access to disinfected larvae of good quality. We therefore started rearing Lucilia sericata larvae in 1998. Rearing necrophagous larvae in a hospital setting makes it essential to con...

Larvae of the blow fly, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), enter diapause in the third instar after cessation of feeding. The effects of temperature and photoperiod on the termination of diapause were examined. The diapause terminated spontaneously under the diapause-inducing condition of 20 degrees C and LD 12:12, although pupariation was not synchronous. Diapause development proceeded under a low tem...