Morphological studies on the larval stages of the sheep blow fly Lucilia cuprian wiedemann [Diptera: Calliphoridae]

ABSTRACT

Light and scanning electron microscope [SEM] were used in the description of Lucilia cuprina larvae. The mouth hooks are poorly developed in the 1st instar larva and well developed in the 2nd and 3rd larval stages, the antennal lobes and maxillary lobes are poorly developed in the 1st instar, but generally showed a higher degree of development in the 2nd and 3rd instar larvae. 1st instar larvae has cuticular sensilla represented by spines arranged, specifically in the dorsal and ventral locations. The distribution of fleshy processes and tiny spines at the body segments of 1st, 2nd and 3rd instar larvae are described in details. The morphological characteristics of the cephalic segment, anterior and posterior spiracles of the three larval instars are also described