Genetic analyses suggest that larval and adult stages of Lucilia cuprina employ different sensory systems

The blowfly Lucilia cuprina is a destructive parasite of sheep that causes flystrike or myiasis. Larvae consume the animals living flesh, producing large wounds that can lead to death. Growing resistance to conventional control methods has prompted the analysis of alternative strategies. RNA-Seq analysis of whole larvae at different stages and third instar head and gut tissues, suggested that odorant (OR), gustatory, ionotropic and pickpocket receptors may not play a central role in the L. cuprina larval sensory signaling and digestive systems. Rather, ABCs transporters were highly enriched in head and gut RNA, and OBPs only in the head. To confirm ORs are not essential for larval detection of rotten beef, diet-choice assays were performed including larvae and adults homozygous for a null mutation in the odorant-coreceptor (LcupOrco) gene. While the attraction of adult females to rotten beef was fully disrupted, LcupOrco mutant larvae showed no change in diet preference.