A body was found to have larvae of the blow fly species Phormia regina present. This species requires 16.0 hours at 26.7°C to develop from egg stage to the larva stage. How long would it take for the larva to form in a house where the thermostat as set at 23.0°C? Assume a linear relationship between the temperature and development time.

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Using the principle of developmental zero, which states that insects have a minimum temperature threshold below which development stops, we can calculate the adjusted development time at a different temperature assuming a linear relationship. The formula to use is: $T_{new} = T_{original} \times \frac{T_{optimal} - T_{developmental\,zero}}{T_{actual} - T_{developmental\,zero}}$. Without the exact developmental zero temperature, we can't directly apply this formula, but we can infer that the development time increases as the temperature decreases from 26.7°C to 23.0°C. Given the options and knowing that development slows down with a decrease in temperature, 18.7 hours is the reasonable estimate for the increased development time.

A Body Was Found to Have Larvae of the Blow