Effects of Experience on Subsequent Feeding or Oviposition Preference in Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) and Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Objectives of this research were to evaluate the effect of larval experience on feeding preference of larvae and the effect of larval and pupal experience on oviposition preference of females in Musca domestica L. and Chrysomya megacephala F. Dietary experience from hatch to test significantly influenced feeding preference of the second-instar larvae in M. domestica (P < 0.01), but did not in C. megacephala. The larval dietary and pupal experience did not change the oviposition preference of C. megacephala, and experienced gravid females laid all of their eggs on pork muscle. Larval feeding regimen had no effect on oviposition preference of subsequent females in M. domestica. However, the pupal experience in M. domestica significantly influenced the oviposition preference of subsequent females, and M. domestica females from pupae matured on wheat bran laid significantly more eggs on wheat bran than those that matured on pork muscle, or filter paper whether pupae were washed or not (P < 0.01). These results demonstrated that host-selection behavior in M. domestica was shaped by preimaginal experience according to the chemical legacy hypothesis.