EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY

Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (2): 177-182, 1997

Deuterium oxide prevents expression of a diapause maternal effect in the flesh fly, Sarcophaga bullata (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), and alters development and fecundity

WEBB M.-L.Z., DENLINGER D.L.

N/A

A maternal effect that operates in Sarcophaga bullata normally prevents expression of pupal diapause in progeny of females that are reared under short days. Thus, only the progeny from females reared under long daylength can respond to short daylength by entering pupal diapause. When 20% deuterium oxide (D₂O) was added to the larval diet, the diapause fate of the flies was reversed: progeny from long-day females failed to diapause in response to short days, and some progeny from shea-day females entered diapause. The diapause fate of the subsequent generation was also affected. Progeny from females reared on the 20% D₂O diet had a high capacity for diapause, thus implying that D₂O exerted an effect similar to that of rearing the mothers under long daylength. Several additional effects were noted in flies on the D₂O diet: duration of the larval feeding period increased, differentiation of the adult abdomen was sometimes incomplete, and fecundity decreased. While an alteration of the timekeeping mechanism can account for some of these responses, the effects of D₂O are pervasive and can influence numerous systems.

Keywords: Diapause, deuterium oxide, maternal effect, development, fecundity, sarcophagidae, Sarcophaga bullata

Accepted: June 21, 1996; Published: May 15, 1997  Show citation