Description of the puparium of Protocalliphora nourtevai (Insecta: Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Abstract

Avian blowflies are obligatory blood-sucking parasite larvae that typically pupariate in bird nests. The empty puparia are diagnostically important, as they are usually the only evidence for the presence of these parasites in nests. Compared to the Nearctic region, very little is known about puparia of Palearctic species. Here, we provide the first description of puparia of Protocalliphora nourtevai from nests of 2 bird species, namely, Phoenicurus phoenicurus and Phoenicurus ochruros from Finland. Puparia possessed irregular pronounced folds in the hyper-, meso-, and hypostigmatal region, and no spines were present in the entire stigmatal area. There are just 2 distinct spine bands on the ventral surface of the puparia. The medial band is absent. There are no plaques or spines in the medial region.