Abstract
The general composition of the calcified puparium of Musca autumnalis was determined. Ash-weight analyses show that 62% of the puparium is inorganic material. The major components of the puparium are calcium, magnesium, phosphate and carbonate. Calcium and magnesium phosphate are the predominant salts in the puparium, with a lesser contribution by their respective carbonates. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the exocuticle was the site of calcification in the puparium. Inorganic analyses of the insoluble salt isolated from face fly larvae showed it to be compositionally identical with the puparial salt. Major organic components of the puparium are lipid, chitin and protein. The presence of carbonic anhydrase and alkaline phosphatase activity in post-feeding larvae was confirmed.
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