Diapause among the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Abstract

. The rich diversity of information focusing on pupal diapause in the sarcophagids makes this fl y family among the best-understood diapause models. This review summarizes the occurrence of pupal diapause in fl esh fl ies from broad geographic re-gions of the world, as well as the apparent absence of diapause in select regions. The environmental cues used for programming diapause are discussed, as well as the requirements for breaking diapause. This taxon has been used for experiments ranging from the ecological to the molecular and offers a comprehensive overview of the diapause phenotype. A wide range of diapause attributes de fi ne the diapause phenotype of fl esh fl ies, offering insights into such features as clock mechanisms, signaling pathways, maternal regulation, energy utilization, cell cycle regulation, metabolic depression, cyclic metabolic activity, cold tolerance, water balance, and other attributes, generating a diapause pro fi le that offers an attractive comparison for diapause in other insect species as well as with other forms of animal dormancy.