Data from: Effect of temperature on oviposition behavior and egg load of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Making optimal oviposition decisions is especially important for female
carrion colonizing insects whose larvae often depend on ephemeral
resources. Oviposition can be influenced by a variety of factors,
including temperature. The aim of this study was to investigate the
effects of temperature on the oviposition behavior and egg load of two
blow fly species native to southern Ontario: Phormia regina Meigen and
Lucilia sericata Meigen (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Using fetal pig
carcasses as an oviposition substrate, we assessed the length of time
until the first oviposition event, preferred oviposition sites, and the
total number of eggs oviposited. For each of the two species, five
different temperature treatments ranging from 15° to 35°C were used.
Temperature influenced time to the first oviposition event, as well as the
number of eggs deposited by L. sericata and P. regina. As temperature
increased, oviposition occurred faster with more eggs deposited for these
two species. Female P. regina, in particular, demonstrated a higher egg
load with increasing temperature. Differences in optimal temperatures for
reproduction, including egg load and oviposition, may be a mechanism
driving seasonal temporal resource partitioning leading to species
co-existence utilizing ephemeral resources.