Flight capacity of adult Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in relation to gender and day-age

Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius, 1794), also known as the oriental latrine fly, is a synanthropic blow fly of medical importance worldwide. Understanding the flight capacity of C. megacephala adults with different day-ages and genders provides a scientific basis for understanding its distribution and potentially effective control. In this study, we used a flight mill to conduct continuous 24-h tethered-flight experiments using unmated male and female adults of C. megacephala at day-ages 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 25, 29, and 33 under controlled conditions of 25 °C, relative humidity 40%, and light intensity of 565 lux. The results showed that total flight distance was significantly affected by gender. Females exhibited superior flight capacity compared to males, reaching a peak at day-age 29 with a median total flight distance of 12 km. Additionally, the longest total flight distance of an adult female was also recorded at day-age 29, reaching 35.5 km, suggesting strong dispersal potential of C. megacephala adults. In males, the median total flight distance peaked at day-age 9, reaching 4 km, while the longest individual total flight distance was observed at day-age 5, reaching 18 km. These findings demonstrate significant differences in flight capacity between genders and day-ages, providing a scientific basis for assessing the dispersal risk and developing control strategies for fly-borne pathogens, as well as insights into the reproductive and flight behavioral adaptations of this species.