THERMAL REQUIREMENTS FOR HYPODERMA-LINEATUM (DIPTERA, OESTRIDAE) EGG DEVELOPMENT

This study was designed to define lower thermal limits for common catt le grub, Hypoderma lineatum (Villers), egg development. The data colle cted in this study suggest that embryonic development was prolonged as temperature was lowered. No hatch was observed when eggs were incubat ed at a constant temperature of 20 degrees C. Measurements of cattle s kin temperature and ovipositional behavior of the gravid female fly su ggest that eggs are oviposited in a suitable thermal environment for s uccessful embryonic development. Eggs oviposited on cattle held in an unheated barn hatched within 1 wk confirming that cattle can be succes sfully laboratory infested in unheated barns during winter in central Texas.