USING THE PUNGENT SEED FLESH OF THE DURIAN FRUIT, DURIO-ZIBETHINUS, TO SYNCHRONIZE THE 2ND OVARIAN CYCLE OF PHORMIA-REGINA (DIPTERA, CALLIPHORIDAE)

Because it is very difficult to synchronize subsequent egg cycles amon g individuals to allow correlation of various endocrine events with vi tellogenic events, most research an the dietary-regulated endocrine co ntrol of oogenesis in higher Diptera has been focused on the ist gonot rophic cycle. This difficulty stems from the fact that flies usually f eed to varying degree on the oviposition substrate either while laying eggs, or immediately after laying eggs. This lack of control over bot h meal size and timing of feeding in egg-laying females results in asy nchrony in the next ovarian cycle. We report here that a female Phormi a regina (Meigen) readily lays her eggs on the odorous seed flesh of t he tropical fruit durian, Durio zibethinus Murr. Further, the amount o f durian flesh ingested while egg laying appears insufficient in terms of protein content to initiate/support the 2nd ovarian cycle. Thus, a fter egg deposition on durain seed flesh, the 2nd ovarian cycle of a c ohort of flies can be initiated and supported synchronously by a 2nd r eplete liver (protein) meal.