RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PTERIN ACCUMULATION AND OVARIAN DEVELOPMENT IN THE STABLE FLY STOMOXYS-CALCITRANS (L) (DIPTERA, MUSCIDAE)

Pterin accumulation in response to temperature and time was studied in male and female stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans (L. ). Pterins accum ulated as a function of temperature integrated over tin le. The thresh old for pterin accumulation was estimated at 6.5-degrees-C. The relati onship between pterin content (RF/mm head capsule width) and accumulat ed degree-days above 6.5-degrees-C (DD6.5) was determined to be RF/mm = 38.06 + 1.258DD6.5 for females and RF/mm = 37.65 + 1.765*DD6.5 for males. Ovarian development. measured by follicle length and degree of vitellogenesis, was also related to DD6.5 and pterin concentration. Th e relationship between y1 = follicle length (mm) and x = DD6.5/200 was y1 = 0.11 + 0.78 [1 - exp(- 18.34*x)]**99.86 and between vitellogeni c stage (y2) and x was y2 = 0.04 + 3.96[ 1 - exp(- 11.48*x)]**6.67. S table flies had a temperature threshold of 8-degrees-C for oviposition .