FLUCTUATING ASYMMETRY AS A QUALITY-CONTROL INDICATOR FOR INSECT MASS REARING PROCESSES

Laboratory populations of a sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann), were subjected to larval crowding and temperature stress. Fluctuating asymmetry of bilateral characters was compared with a number of conventional quality control parameters for its ability and sensitivity to indicate the presence of these stresses. In all cases, fluctuating asymmetry was the most consistent and reliable parameter examined. Fluctuating asymmetry may have considerably more potential as a quality control indicator and monitoring tool than other commonly used parameters.