INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON COPULA DURATION AND MATING PROPENSITY IN LUCILIA-CUPRINA WIEDEMANN (DIPTERA, CALLIPHORIDAE)

There was a logarithmic decline in copula duration with increasing tem perature in adult L. cuprina. Copula duration varied from 26 min at 17 -degrees-C to 7 min at 41-degrees-C. Temperature had no effect on the time from pairing to the first mating attempt. The frequency of mating attempts by males increased with rising temperatures between 15-30-de grees-C, but declined at > 30-degrees-C. The time from pairing to the start of mating was quickest at 25-degrees-C, declining with increasin g temperatures. The optimal temperature for mating was between 25-30-d egrees-C, when frequency of mating attempts and the proportion of flie s mating were highest, whilst time from pairing to both the first mati ng attempt and the start of mating were lowest. The temperature thresh old for mating was around 16-degrees-C.