Jg. Stoffolano et al., DIET AFFECTS INSEMINATION AND SEXUAL-ACTIVITY IN MALE PHORMIA-REGINA (DIPTERA, CALLIPHORIDAE), Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 88(2), 1995, pp. 240-246
A proteinaceous diet is essential for male black blow fly, Phormia reg
ina (Meigen), to successfully inseminate females and can be obtained n
aturally from feces or gleba. Sugar-fed males inseminate a low percent
age of females (8-14%) compared with liver-fed males (>75%). If, howev
er, liver-deprived males are kept with liver-fed females for 24 h, mal
es are able to obtain their dietary requirement for mating by feeding
on female feces or vomit spots. Using a fluorescent dye mixed with the
beef-liver diet fed to females, it was demonstrated that nonliver-fed
males consume feces or vomit spots from these flies. If liver-deprive
d, either sex will exhibit licking behavior, which is directed only at
liver-fed flies. This behavior to acquire an essential component from
the liver diet may have been the original function of the anal-genita
l licking behavior observed in several species of Drosophila and is no
w part of their courtship ritual.