Experimental studies of blowfly (Calliphora stygia) longevity: A little dietary fat is beneficial but too much is detrimental

Abstract

This paper is one in a series of experimental studies on the effects of food composition on aging and longevity, using the golden-haired blowfly Calliphora stygia as the animal model. Here we examine how diet fat content affects blowfly life history traits such as longevity, reproduction, feeding rate, body mass, total fat content and membrane fatty acid composition. The highest median and maximum longevity was observed in blowflies fed on low fat diets, while high-fat diets caused more rapid death of the blowflies. A major result was that blowflies feeding on the lowest fat diet had the highest maximal lifespan demonstrating that low levels of diet fat enhanced blowfly lifespan. Diet also influenced gender-specific mortality rates; females lived longer on a high-fat diet, while males lived longer on a low fat diet. Furthermore, we provide data for and explain how blowfly feeding rates, egg production and male harassment affected blowfly longevity. Our results highlight the need for further studies to understand how dietary fats are metabolised and utilised in the golden-haired blowfly.