Influence of parasitism and soil compaction on pupation of the green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata

The influence of parasitoids and soil compaction on pupation behavior of blow flies was examined in a host-parasitoid system involving Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Larvae of L. sericata were introduced to containers with soil of different compaction levels, with or without parasitoids. Although females of N. vitripennis did not significantly affect the pupation depth of L. sericata, they increased the rate of pupal development by 15.0-23.7 h at 28.4 ± 1.2 °C, and increased the clumping of puparia. Pupation depth of L. sericata was negatively related to soil compaction; mean depth of pupation was 4.4 cm in uncompacted soil and 0.5 cm in high-compaction soil. In high-compaction soil, pupal development increased by 10.5-18.8 h at 25.2 ± 0.3 °C, and puparia were clumped. These results provide a framework for locating puparia in forensic investigations and releasing appropriate parasitoids for biological control of blow flies.