A White-Eye Mutant of Protophormia terraenovae (Diptera: Calliphoridae): Mode of Inheritance and Photoperiodic Response

Abstract

A spontaneous mutant, white , with the phenotype of white compound eyes was isolated from a laboratory culture of Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy) that originated from Obihiro, Japan. Standard genetic crosses showed that the white trait is controlled by an autosomal recessive. The photoperiodic response for the induction of adult diapause was examined at different temperatures and light intensities. The wild-type P. terraenovae showed a long-day photoperiodic response under all conditions examined. When the light intensity of the photophase was 500 or 20,000 lux at 25°C, white adults reproduced directly without diapause both under long-day and short-day conditions. Under 500 lux at 20°C or under 0.5 lux at 25°C, however, the white strain showed a long-day photoperiodic response.