A comparative study of larval embryogenesis in the mosquito Culex fatigans Wiedemann (Diptera : Culicidae) and the sheep-fly Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera : Calliphoridae)

Abstract

The general course of embryonic development in Culex fatigans and Lucilia sericata resembles that described for other dipteran species. Important differences between these two species found in this study are: earlier separation and smaller number of pole cells in C. fatigans than in L. sericata, the initial lack of clear histological margins between certain of the presumptive areas in the former species as compared with the latter, and a suppression of mesodermal segmentation in L. sericata, not found in C. fatigans. These distinguishing features find parallels in other described dipteran species, and allow a more general comparison between the embryology of Nematocera and Cyclorrhapha to be made. In both C. fatigans and L. sericata all the pole cells are presumptive germ cells. The condition in C. fatigans is typical of Nematocera. That in L. sericata may be exceptional for Cyclorrhapha, although insufficient evidence is available.