My lab is interested in the evolution and development of the insect body, especially the nervous system and gland system. We are currently looking for genetic links between the two systems. Glands and sense organs are mini-organs that have been termed organules. They are made up of just a few cells so the genetic and cellular basis of their differentiation is of great interest. We study these processes in embryos, larvae and pupae of Drosophila melanogaster, a model organism for genetic studies, using techniques such as light microscopy, immunostaining, and genetic approaches.
We are also investigating the regulation of bioluminescenceby glow-worms, an unusual group of insects found in Australian caves and rain-forests. The larvae of glow-worms produce light from their malpighian tubules to attract prey to their sticky webs. We are studying the phylogenetics and population genetics of cave vs rainforest populations and how they regulate their light output.
Publications
Book
Plowman, Cathie, Merritt, David and Fenton, Janet (2013). Living lights: the glowworms of Australia and New Zealand. Deviot, TAS, Australia: Cathie Plowman.
Book Chapters
Cribb, Bronwen W. and Merritt, David J. (2013). Chemoreception. The Insects: Structure and Function. (pp. 771-792) edited by Stephen J. Simpson and Angela E. Douglas. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/CBO9781139035460
Merritt, D.J. and Clarke, A.K. (2009). Rhythmic regulation of bioluminescence in glowworms, Arachnocampa. Bioluminescence in focus. A collection of illuminating essays. (pp. 291-303) edited by Meyer-Rochow, V.B.. India: Research Signpost.
Merritt, D. J. (2007). The organule concept of insect sense organs: Sensory transduction and organule evolution. Advances in Insect Physiology. (pp. 192-241) edited by S. J. Simpson. Oxford, U.K.: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/S0065-2806(06)33004-4
Merritt, D. J. (2005). Evolution and development of the Dipteran nervous system. Evolutionary biology of flies. (pp. 173-195) edited by David K. Yeates and Brian M. Wiegmann. New York, U.S.: Columbia University Press.
Journal Articles
Merritt, David J. (2024). Photographic monitoring of glowworm Arachnocampa luminosa (Diptera: Keroplatidae) bioluminescence in a tourist cave reveals diurnal and annual cycles. Austral Entomology, 63 (3), 379-392. doi: 10.1111/aen.12705
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Merritt, David J., Cardoso, Fernanda C., Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Mercedes, Raine S., Eagles, David A., Cooper, Paul, Zdenek, Christina N., Fry, Bryan G., Hall, Donald W., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2023). Horizontal gene transfer underlies the painful stings of asp caterpillars (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120 (29) e2305871120, e2305871120. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2305871120
Hendy, Chris H., Merritt, David J. and Corkill, Shannon (2022). Anthropogenic impacts on the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo, New Zealand: a microclimate management approach. International Journal of Speleology, 51 (1), 59-68. doi: 10.5038/1827-806X.51.1.2411
Merritt, David J., Hendy, Chris H. and Corkill, Shannon (2022). Absence of visitors during lockdown reveals natural variation in carbon dioxide level in the Glowworm Cave, Waitomo, New Zealand. International Journal of Speleology, 51 (2), 133-139. doi: 10.5038/1827-806X.51.2.2435
Villegas-Ospina, Simon, Merritt, David J. and Johnson, Karyn N. (2021). Physical and chemical barriers in the larval midgut confer developmental resistance to virus infection in Drosophila. Viruses, 13 (5) 894, 894. doi: 10.3390/v13050894
Walker, Andrew A., Robinson, Samuel D., Paluzzi, Jean-Paul V., Merritt, David J., Nixon, Samantha A., Schroeder, Christina I., Jin, Jiayi, Goudarzi, Mohaddeseh Hedayati, Kotze, Andrew C., Dekan, Zoltan, Sombke, Andy, Alewood, Paul F., Fry, Bryan G., Epstein, Marc E., Vetter, Irina and King, Glenn F. (2021). Production, composition, and mode of action of the painful defensive venom produced by a limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118 (18) 2023815118, e2023815118. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2023815118
Ebert, Kathryn M., Arnold, William G., Ebert, Paul R. and Merritt, David J. (2021). Hindgut microbiota reflects different digestive strategies in dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae). Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 87 (5), 1-17. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02100-20
Court, Robert, Namiki, Shigehiro, Armstrong, J. Douglas, Börner, Jana, Card, Gwyneth, Costa, Marta, Dickinson, Michael, Duch, Carsten, Korff, Wyatt, Mann, Richard, Merritt, David, Murphey, Rod K., Seeds, Andrew M., Shirangi, Troy, Simpson, Julie H., Truman, James W., Tuthill, John C., Williams, Darren W. and Shepherd, David (2020). A systematic nomenclature for the Drosophila ventral nerve cord. Neuron, 107 (6), 1071-1079.e2. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.08.005
Charlton, Hamish Richard and Merritt, David John (2020). Carbon dioxide-induced bioluminescence increase in Arachnocampa larvae. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 223 (15) jeb225151. doi: 10.1242/jeb.225151
Houghton, Melissa, Terauds, Aleks, Merritt, David, Driessen, Michael and Shaw, Justine (2019). The impacts of non-native species on the invertebrates of Southern Ocean Islands. Journal of Insect Conservation, 23 (3), 435-452. doi: 10.1007/s10841-019-00147-9
Ebert, Kathryn M., Monteith, Geoff B., Menéndez, Rosa and Merritt, David J. (2019). Bait preferences of Australian dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in tropical and subtropical Queensland forests. Austral Entomology, 58 (4) aen.12396, 772-782. doi: 10.1111/aen.12396
von Byern, Janek, Chandler, Pete, Merritt, David, Adlassnig, Wolfram, Stringer, Ian, Meyer-Rochow, Victor Benno, Kovalev, Alexander, Dorrer, Victoria, Dimartino, Simone, Marchetti-Deschmann, Martina and Gorb, Stanislav (2019). Biomechanical properties of fishing lines of the glowworm Arachnocampa luminosa (Diptera; Keroplatidae). Scientific Reports, 9 (1) 3082, 3082. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39098-1
Seubparu, Lucksanaveejit, Nipitwathanaphon, Mingkwan, Wisoram, Wijit, Merritt, David and Ngernsiri, Lertluk (2018). Morphology of testes, spermatogenesis, sperm bundles, and spermatozoa of Kerria chinensis (Hemiptera: Kerriidae). Canadian Entomologist, 150 (05), 594-609. doi: 10.4039/tce.2018.39
Walker, Andrew A., Mayhew, Mark L., Jin, Jiayi, Herzig, Volker, Undheim, Eivind A. B., Sombke, Andy, Fry, Bryan G., Meritt, David J. and King, Glenn F. (2018). The assassin bug Pristhesancus plagipennis produces two distinct venoms in separate gland lumens. Nature Communications, 9 (1) 755, 755. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03091-5
Merritt, David J. and Patterson, Rachell (2018). Environmental influences on the bioluminescence display of the glow-worm, Arachnocampa flava (Diptera: Keroplatidae). Austral Entomology, 57 (1), 107-117. doi: 10.1111/aen.12274
Berry, Sarah E.,, Gilchrist, Joshua and Merritt, David J. (2017). Homeostatic and circadian mechanisms of bioluminescence regulation differ between a forest and a facultative cave species of glowworm, Arachnocampa. Journal of Insect Physiology, 103, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2017.09.005
Dorey, James B. and Merritt, David J. (2017). First observations on the life cycle and mass eclosion events in a mantis fly (Family Mantispidae) in the subfamily Drepanicinae. Biodiversity Data Journal, 5 (5) e21206, 1-12. doi: 10.3897/BDJ.5.e21206
Von Byern, Janek, Dorrer, Victoria, Merritt, David J., Chandler, Peter, Stringer, Ian, Marchetti-Deschmann, Martina, McNaughton, Andrew, Cyran, Norbert, Thiel, Karsten, Noeske, Michael and Grunwald, Ingo (2016). Characterization of the fishing lines in Titiwai (=Arachnocampa luminosa Skuse, 1890) from New Zealand and Australia. PLoS ONE, 11 (12) e0162687, e0162687. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162687
Mills, Rebecca, Popple, Julie‑Anne, Veidt, Martin and Merritt, David John (2016). Detection of light and vibration modulates bioluminescence intensity in the glowworm, Arachnocampa flava. Journal of Comparative Physiology A: Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology, 202 (4), 313-327. doi: 10.1007/s00359-016-1077-0
Goodall, Jake D., Wade, Nicholas M., Merritt, David J., Sellars, Melony J., Salee, Kinam and Coman, Greg J. (2016). The effects of adding microbial biomass to grow-out and maturation feeds on the reproductive performance of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. Aquaculture, 450, 206-212. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2015.07.036
Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Trueman, Holly E., Merritt, David J. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2015). The other prey-capture silk: fibres made by glow-worms (Diptera: Keroplatidae) comprise cross-β-sheet crystallites in an abundant amorphous fraction. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part B: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 187, 78-84. doi: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2015.05.008
Undheim, Eivind A.B., Hamilton, Brett R., Kurniawan, Nyoman D., Bowlay, Greg, Cribb, Bronwen W., Merritt, David J., Fry,Bryan G., King, Glenn F and Venter, Deon J. (2015). Production and packaging of a biological arsenal: evolution of centipede venoms under morphological constraint. PNAS: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 112 (13), 4026-4031. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1424068112
Ngernsiri, Lertluk, Piyajaraprasert, Wichian, Wisoram, Wijit and Merritt, David John (2014). Structure of the female reproductive system of the lac insect, Kerria chinensis (Sternorrhyncha, Coccoidea: Kerridae). Acta Zoologica, 96 (3), 312-318. doi: 10.1111/azo.12078
Kheyri, Homayoun, Cribb, Bronwen W. and Merritt, David J. (2014). The comparative morphology of epidermal glands in Pentatomoidea (Heteroptera). Arthropod Structure and Development, 43 (3), 211-219. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2014.04.004
Mayhew, Mark Leonard and Merritt, David John (2013). The morphogenesis of spermathecae and spermathecal glands in Drosophila melanogaster. Arthropod Structure and Development, 42 (5), 385-393. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2013.07.002
Merritt, David J. (2013). Standards of evidence for bioluminescence in cockroaches. Naturwissenschaften, 100 (7), 697-698. doi: 10.1007/s00114-013-1067-9
Maynard, Andrew J. and Merritt, David J. (2013). Synchronization of circadian bioluminescence as a group-foraging strategy in cave glowworms. Integrative and Comparative Biology, 53 (1), 154-164. doi: 10.1093/icb/ict011
Kheyri, Homayoun, Cribb, Bronwen W. and Merritt, David J. (2013). Comparing the secretory pathway in honeybee venom and hypopharyngeal glands. Arthropod Structure & Development, 42 (2), 107-114. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2012.10.004
Merritt, David J. and Clarke, Arthur K. (2013). The impact of cave lighting on the bioluminescent display of the Tasmanian glow-worm Arachnocampa tasmaniensis. Journal of Insect Conservation, 17 (1), 147-153. doi: 10.1007/s10841-012-9493-0
Merritt, David J., Rodgers, Essie M., Amir, Ami F. and Clarke, Arthur K. (2012). Same temporal niche, opposite rhythmicity: two closely related bioluminescent insects with opposite bioluminesce propensity rhythms. Chronobiology International, 29 (10), 1336-1344. doi: 10.3109/07420528.2012.728549
Kheyri, Homayoun, Cribb, Bronwen W., Reinhard, Judith, Claudianos, Charles and Merritt, David J. (2012). Novel actin rings within the secretory cells of honeybee royal jelly glands. Cytoskeleton, 69 (12), 1032-1039. doi: 10.1002/cm.21059
Walker, Andrew A., Weisman, Sarah, Church, Jeffrey S., Merritt, David J., Mudie, Stephen T. and Sutherland, Tara D. (2012). Silk from crickets: a new twist on spinning. Plos One, 7 (2) e30408, e30408-1-e30408-8. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030408
Wong, Darren C. C., Pearson, Roger D., Elvin, Christopher M. and Merritt, David J. (2012). Expression of the rubber-like protein, resilin, in developing and functional insect cuticle determined using a Drosophila anti-rec 1 resilin antibody. Developmental Dynamics, 241 (2), 333-339. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.23724
Lyons, Russell E., Wong, Darren C. C., Kim, Misook, Lekieffre, Nicolas, Huson, Mickey G., Vuocolo, Tony, Merritt, David J., Nairn, Kate M., Dudek, Daniel M., Colgrave, Michelle L. and Elvin, Christopher M. (2011). Molecular and functional characterisation of resilin across three insect orders. Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 41 (11), 881-890. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2011.08.002
Rigby, Lisa M. and Merritt, David J. (2011). Roles of biogenic amines in regulating bioluminescence in the Australian glowworm Arachnocampa flava. Journal of Experimental Biology, 214 (19), 3286-3293. doi: 10.1242/jeb.060509
Willis, Robyn E., White, Craig R. and Merritt, David J. (2011). Using light as a lure is an efficient predatory strategy in Arachnocampa flava, an Australian glowworm. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 181 (4), 477-486. doi: 10.1007/s00360-010-0533-3
Merritt, David J. and Clarke, Arthur K. (2011). Synchronized circadian bioluminescence in cave-dwelling Arachnocampa tasmaniensis (Glowworms). Journal of Biological Rhythms, 26 (1), 34-43. doi: 10.1177/0748730410391947
Foote, Andrew, Sellars, Melony, Coman, Greg and Merritt, David (2010). Cytological defects during embryogenesis in heat-induced tetraploid Kuruma shrimp Penaeus japonicus. Arthropod Structure and Development, 39 (4), 268-275. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2009.12.001
Sutherland, Tara D., Young, James H., Weisman, Sarah, Hayashi, Cheryl Y. and Merritt, David J. (2010). Insect silk: One name, many materials. Annual Review of Entomology, 55, 171-188. doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-112408-085401
Merritt, D.J. (2009). Glow worms tell the time.. Australasian Science, 30 (7), 31-33.
Baker, C. H., Graham, G. C., Scott, K. D., Cameron, S. L., Yeates, D. K. and Merritt, D. J. (2008). Distribution and phylogenetic relationships of Australian glow-worms Arachnocampa (Diptera, Keroplatidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 48 (2), 506-514. doi: 10.1016/j.ympev.2008.04.037
Merritt, D. J. and Aotani , S. (2008). Circadian Regulation of Bioluminescence in the Prey-Luring Glowworm, Arachnocampa flava. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 23 (4), 319-329. doi: 10.1177/0748730408320263
Martin, Veronica, Mrkusich, Eli, Steinel, Martin C., Rice, Jason, Merritt, David J. and Whitington, Paul M. (2008). The L1-type cell adhesion molecule Neuroglian is necessary for maintenance of sensory axon advance in the Drosophila embryo. Neural Development, 3 (1) 10, Article Number: 10. doi: 10.1186/1749-8104-3-10
Kuballa, Anna V., Merritt, David J. and Elizur, Abigail (2007). Gene expression profiling of cuticular proteins across the moult cycle of the crab Portunus pelagicus. BMC Biology, 5 (45) 45, 1-26. doi: 10.1186/1741-7007-5-45
Schrader, S. and Merritt, D. J. (2007). Dorsal longitudinal stretch receptor of Drosophila melanogaster larva - Fine structure and maturation. Arthropod Structure & Development, 36 (2), 157-169. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2006.08.014
Johnson, M. L., Armitage, S., Scholz, B. C. G., Merritt, D. J., Cribb, B. W. and Zalucki, M. P. (2007). Predator presence moves Helicoverpa armigera larvae to distraction. Journal of Insect Behavior, 20 (1), 1-18. doi: 10.1007/s10905-006-9048-x
Kuballa, A. V., Guyatt, K., Dixon, B., Thaggard, H., Ashton, A. R., Paterson, B., Merritt, D. J. and Elizur, A. (2007). Isolation and expression analysis of multiple isoforms of putative farnesoic acid O-methyltransferase in several crustacean species. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 150 (1), 48-58. doi: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2006.07.020
Johnson, M. L., Merritt, D. J., Cribb, B. W., Trent, C. and Zalucki, M. P. (2006). Hidden trails: Visualizing arthropod silk. Entomologia Experimentalis Et Applicata, 121 (3), 271-274. doi: 10.1111/j.1570-8703.2006.00447.x
Sorensen, G. S., Cribb, B. W., Merritt, D., Johnson, M. L. and Zalucki, M. P. (2006). Structure and ultrastructure of the silk glands and spinneret of Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae). Arthropod Structure & Development, 35 (1), 3-13. doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2005.10.002
Heslin, L. M. and Merritt, D. J. (2005). Cannibalistic feeding of larval Trichogramma carverae parasitoids in moth eggs. Naturwissenschaften, 92 (9), 435-439. doi: 10.1007/s00114-005-0015-8
Elvin, Christopher M., Carr, Andrew G., Huson, Mickey G., Maxwell, Jane M., Pearson, Roger D., Vuocolo, Tony, Liyou, Nancy E., Wong, Darren C. C., Merritt, David J. and Dixon, Nicholas E. (2005). Synthesis and properties of crosslinked recombinant pro-resilin. Nature, 437 (7061), 999-1002. doi: 10.1038/nature04085
Heslin, L. M., Kopittke, R. A. and Merritt, D. J. (2005). Refinement of a cell line based artificial diet for rearing the parasitoid wasp, Trichogramma pretiosum. Biological Control, 33 (3), 278-285. doi: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2005.03.018
Heslin, L. M., Kopittke, R. A. and Merritt, D. J. (2005). The role of insect cell lines in an artificial diet for the parasitold wasp, Trichogramma pretiosum. Biological Control, 33 (2), 186-193. doi: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2005.02.004
Wilson, C. I., Tisdell, C. A. and Merritt, D. J. (2004). Glow worms as a tourist attraction in Springbrook National Park: Visitor attitudes and economic issues. Economics, Ecology and the Environment, 105, 1-31.
Jarjees, E. and Merritt, D. J. (2004). The effect of parasitization by Trichogramma australicum on Helicoverpa armigera host eggs and embryos. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 85 (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2003.12.001
Cribb, Bronwen W., Brei, Brandon, Ridley, Andrew W. and Merritt, David J. (2003). Occurrence of immature Culicoides molestus (Skuse) (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae) in relation to habitat characteristics. Australian Journal of Entomology, 42 (2), 114-118. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-6055.2003.00332.x
Brei, B., Cribb, B. W. and Merritt, D. J. (2003). Effects of seawater components on immature Culicoides molestus (Skuse) (Diptera : Ceratopogonidae). Australian Journal of Entomology, 42 (2), 119-123. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-6055.2003.00333.x
Jarjees, E. A. and Merritt, D. J. (2003). Structure of the gut contents of Trichogramma australicum Girault (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae) larvae fixed in situ in eggs of its host Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae). Australian Journal of Entomology, 42 (2), 203-209. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-6055.2003.00338.x
Scott, K. D., Wilkinson, K. S., Merritt, M. A., Scott, L. J., Lange, C. L., Schutze, M. K., Kent, J. K., Merritt, D. J., Grundy, P. R. and Graham, G. C. (2003). Genetic shifts in Helicoverpa armigera Hubner (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) over a year in the Dawson/Callide Valleys. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research, 54 (8), 739-744. doi: 10.1071/AR02164
Baker, C. H. and Merritt, D. J. (2003). Life Cycle of an Australian glow-worm Arachnocampa flava Harrison (Dipera: Keroplatidae: Arachnocampinae). Australian Entomologist, 30 (2), 45-55.
Hugo, R. L. E., Merritt, D. J. and Wild, C. H. (2003). Gut content analysis to distinguish between seed feeding and mycophagy of a biphyllid beetle larva found on Acacia melanoxylon. Biocontrol Science And Technology, 13 (3), 355-360. doi: 10.1080/0958315031000110364
Young, J. H. and Merritt, D. J. (2003). The ultrastructure and function of the silk-producing basitarsus in the Hilarini (Diptera : Ernpididae). Arthropod Structure & Development, 32 (2-3), 157-165. doi: 10.1016/s1467-8039(03)00006-9
McGraw, E. A., Merritt, D. J., Droller, J. N. and O'Neill, S. L. (2002). Wolbachia density and virulence attenuation after transfer into a novel host. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences of The United States of America, 99 (5), 2918-2923. doi: 10.1073/pnas.052466499
Jarjees, E. A. and Merritt, D. J. (2002). Development of Trichogramma australicum Girault (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae) in Helicoverpa (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae) host eggs. Australian Journal of Entomology, 41 (4), 310-315. doi: 10.1046/j.1440-6055.2002.00319.x
Wong, D. C. C. and Merritt, D. J. (2002). The role of homeotic genes in determining the segmental pattern of chordotonal organs in Drosophila. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 46 (4), 475-481.
Yeates, DK, Merritt, DJ and Baker, CH (2002). The adult ventral nerve cord as a phylogenetic character in brachyceran Diptera. Organisms Diversity & Evolution, 2 (2), 89-96. doi: 10.1078/1439-6092-00037
Merritt, DJ and Whitington, PM (2002). Homeotic genes influence the axonal pathway of a Drosophila embryonic sensory neuron. International Journal of Developmental Biology, 46 (4), 633-638.
McGraw, E. A., Merritt, D. J., Droller, J. N. and O'Neill, S. L. (2001). Wolbachia-mediated sperm modification is dependent on the host genotype in Drosophila. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B-Containing Papers of a Biological Character, 268 (1485), 2565-2570. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2001.1839
Merritt, D. J. and Baker, C. H. (2001). Australian Glow-worms in Caves. Newcaves Chronicles, 16, 42-44.
Notarte, A. and Merritt, D. J. (2001). Successful in vitro rearing of Trichogramma australicum (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae) on artificial diet containing cultured insect cells. Bulletin of Entomological Research, 91 (3), 227-229. doi: 10.1079/ber200192
Schrader, S. and Merritt, D. J. (2000). Crab stomach pyloric muscles display not only excitatory but inhibitory and neuromodulatory nerve terminals. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 425 (1), 70-81. doi: 10.1002/1096-9861(20000911)425:1<70::AID-CNE7>3.0.CO;2-F
Winterton, SL, Merritt, DJ, O'Toole, A, Yeates, DK and Irwin, ME (2000). Morphology and histology of the spermathecal sac, a novel structure in the female reproductive system of Therevidae (Diptera:Asiloidea). International Journal of Insect Morphology and Embryology, 28 (4), 273-279. doi: 10.1016/S0020-7322(99)00030-6
Schrader, S. and Merritt, D. J. (2000). Central projections of Drosophila sensory neurons in the transition from embryo to larva. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 425 (1), 34-44. doi: 10.1002/1096-9861(20000911)425:1<34::AID-CNE4>3.0.CO;2-G
Nahrung, H. F. and Merritt, D. J. (1999). Moisture is required for the termination of egg diapause in the chrysomelid beetle, Homichloda barkeri. Entomolgia Experimentalis et Applicata., 93 (2), 201-207. doi: 10.1046/j.1570-7458.1999.00579.x
Winterton, SL, Merritt, DJ, OToole, A, Yeates, DK and Irwin, ME (1999). Morphology and histology of the spermathecal sac, a novel structure in the female reproductive system of Therevidae (Diptera : Asiloidea). International Journal of Insect Morphology & Embryology, 28 (4), 273-279. doi: 10.1016/S0020-7322(99)00030-6
Nahrung, H. F. and Merritt, D. J. (1999). Effects of mate availability on female longevity, fecundity and egg development of Homichloda barkeri (Jacoby) (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae). Coleopterists Bulletin, 53 (4), 329-332.
Nahrung, HF and Merritt, DJ (1999). Moisture is required for the termination of egg diapause in the chrysomelid beetle, Homichloda barkeri. Entomologia Experimentalis Et Applicata, 93 (2), 201-207. doi: 10.1046/j.1570-7458.1999.00579.x
Weiss, BL and Merritt, DJ (1998). Demonstration of an ecdysis-triggering compound in the epitracheal gland of the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lepidoptera : Noctuidae). Australian Journal of Entomology, 37 (4), 366-368. doi: 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1998.tb01598.x
Murray, MJ, Merritt, DJ, Brand, AH and Whitington, PM (1998). In vivo dynamics of axon pathfinding in the Drosophila CNS: A time-lapse study of an identified motoneuron. Journal of Neurobiology, 37 (4), 607-621. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4695(199812)37:4<607::AID-NEU9>3.0.CO;2-Q
Jarjees, E, Merritt, DJ and Gordh, G (1998). Anatomy of the mouthparts and digestive tract during feeding in larvae of the parasitoid wasp Trichogramma australicum Girault (Hymenoptera : Trichogrammatidae). International Journal of Insect Morphology & Embryology, 27 (2), 103-110. doi: 10.1016/S0020-7322(97)00037-8
Vervoort, M, Merritt, DJ, Ghysen, A and DamblyChaudiere, C (1997). Genetic basis of the formation and identity of type I and type II neurons in Drosophila embryos. Development, 124 (14), 2819-2828.
Merritt, DJ (1997). Transformation of external sensilla to chordotonal sensilla in the cut mutant of Drosophila assessed by single-cell marking in the embryo and larva. Microscopy Research And Technique, 39 (6), 492-505. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(19971215)39:6<492::AID-JEMT4>3.0.CO;2-G
Merritt, DJ and Whitington, PM (1995). Central Projections of Sensory Neurons in the Drosophila Embryo Correlate with Sensory Modality, Soma Position, and Proneural Gene-Function. Journal of Neuroscience, 15 (3), 1755-1767.
Merritt, DJ, Yin, CM and Stoffolano, JG (1994). Copulatory Apparatus and Deposition of Male Accessory Secretion in Phormia-Regina (diptera, Calliphoridae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 87 (1), 97-103. doi: 10.1093/aesa/87.1.97
Killian, KA, Merritt, DJ and Murphey, RK (1993). Transplantation of Neurons Reveals Processing Areas and Rules for Synaptic Connectivity in the Cricket Nervous-System. Journal of Neurobiology, 24 (9), 1187-1206. doi: 10.1002/neu.480240906
Merritt, DJ, Hawken, A and Whitington, PM (1993). The Role of the Cut Gene in the Specification of Central Projections by Sensory Axons in Drosophila. Neuron, 10 (4), 741-752. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(93)90174-P
Merritt, DJ and Murphey, RK (1992). Projections of Leg Proprioceptors Within the Cns of the Fly Phormia in Relation to the Generalized Insect Ganglion. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 322 (1), 16-34. doi: 10.1002/cne.903220103
Lakesharlan, R, Pollack, GS and Merritt, DJ (1991). From Embryo to Adult - Anatomy and Development of a Leg Sensory Organ in Phormia-Regina, Meigen (insecta, Diptera) .2. Development and Persistence of Sensory Neurons. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 308 (2), 200-208. doi: 10.1002/cne.903080207
Lakesharlan, R, Pollack, GS and Merritt, DJ (1991). From Embryo to Adult - Anatomy and Development of a Leg Sensory Organ in Phormia-Regina Meigen (insecta, Diptera) .1. Anatomy and Physiology of a Larval Leg Sensory Organ. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 308 (2), 188-199. doi: 10.1002/cne.903080206
Murphey, RK, Possidente, D, Pollack, G and Merritt, DJ (1989). Modality-Specific Axonal Projections in the Cns of the Flies Phormia and Drosophila. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 290 (2), 185-200. doi: 10.1002/cne.902900203
Merritt, DJ (1989). The Cercal Sensilla of the Blowfly Lucilia-Cuprina .2. Structure of the Enveloping Cells and the Basal Regions of the Sensory Dendrites. Tissue & Cell, 21 (2), 281-298. doi: 10.1016/0040-8166(89)90072-4
Merritt, DJ (1989). The Morphology of the Phallosome and Accessory-Gland Material Transfer During Copulation in the Blowfly, Lucilia-Cuprina (insecta, Diptera). Zoomorphology, 108 (6), 359-366. doi: 10.1007/BF00312276
Merritt, DJ (1987). The Cercal Sensilla of the Blowfly Lucilia-Cuprina .1. Structure of the Sockets and Distal Dendritic Regions. Tissue & Cell, 19 (2), 287-299. doi: 10.1016/0040-8166(87)90013-9
Merritt, DJ and Rice, MJ (1984). Innervation of the Cercal Sensilla On the Ovipositor of the Australian Sheep Blowfly (lucilia-Cuprina). Physiological Entomology, 9 (1), 39-47. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3032.1984.tb00679.x
Eisemann, C. H., Jorgensen, W. K., Merritt, D. J., Rice, M. J., Cribb, B. W., Webb, P. D. and Zalucki, M. P. (1984). Do insects feel pain? — a biological view. Experientia, 40 (2), 164-167. doi: 10.1007/BF01963580
Conference Papers
Goodall, J., Botwright, N., Wade, N., Merritt, D., Coman, G. and Sellars, M. (2016). Investigating the molecular regulation and control of spawning performance in domesticated Penaeus monodon broodstock. Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes (FAANG) ASAS-ISAG Joint Symposium, Salt Lake City, UT United States, 19 - 23 July 2016. Cary, NC United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.2527/jas2016.94supplement4127x
Maynard, Andrew J. and Merritt, David J. (2013). Synchronization of circadian bioluminescence as a group-foraging strategy in cave glowworms. Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Integrative-and-Comparative-Biology (SICB), San Francisco, CA, United States, 3-7 January 2013. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/icb/ict013
Niu, C., Lei, C. and Merritt, D.J. (2008). Temperature-dependence of bioluminescence of the Australian glow-worm Arachnocampa flava Harrison (Diptera : Keroplatidae). 15th International Symposium on Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, Shanghai, China, 13-17 May 2008. West Sussex, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. doi: 10.1002/bio.1036
Leemon, D. M., Jonsson, N. N. and Merritt, D. (2004). Developing methodologies for fungal biopesticides of livestock ectoparasites. Strength in Diversity, Brisbane, QLD, 15-21 August 2004. Australia:
Johnson, M-L., Cribb, B. W. and Merritt, D. J. (2004). Quantification of silk trails made by lepidopteran larvae. Entomology Strength in Diversity, Brisbane, Australia, 11-15 August. Australia: Carillon Conference Management Pty Ltd.
Heslin, L. M. and Merritt, D. J. (2004). Competition and cannibalism in the gregarious egg parasitoid Trichogramma carverae: time-lapse imaging of development. Entomology Strength in Diversity, Brisbane, Australia, 11-15 August. Australia: Carillon Conference Management Pty Ltd.
Baker, C. H., Scott, K. D. and Merritt, D. J. (2004). Defining Australian glow-worm (Diptera: Keroplatidae: Arachnocampa spp) species by their distribution, reproductive isolation, mitochondrial genes and morphology. Entomology Strength in Diversity, Brisbane, Australia, 11-15 August. Australia: Carillon Conference Management Pty Ltd.
Baker, C. H. and Merritt, D. J. (2004). Management of Australian glow-worms (Diptera: Keroplatidae: Archnocampa spp,): identification of threats and types of glow-worm tourism. Entomology Strength in Diversity, Brisbane, Australia, 15-21 August. Australia: Carillon Conference Management Pty Ltd.
Wong, D. C. C., Elvin, C. and Merritt, D. J. (2003). Expression of resilin a rubber-like protein in the cuticle of Drosophila melanogaster. XIX International Congress of Genetics, Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, VIC, 6-11 July 2003. Collingwood, Australia: Applied Biosystems.
Merritt, D. J. (2003). Neuronal conservation in the higher level diptera. XIX International Congress of Genetics, Melbourne Exhibition & Convention Centre, VIC, 6-11 July 2003. Kent Town, SA, Australia: ASBMB inc..
Heslin, L. and Merritt, D. J. (2003). In vitro rearing of the parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum on artificial diets containing cultured insect cells. 34th Australian Entomological Society/6th Invertebrate Biodiversity & Conservation Combined Conference, The Corus Hotel, Hobart, Tasmania (Australia), 28 September - 3 October 2003. Sandy Bay, TAS: Conference Design Pty Ltd.
Merritt, M. A., Scott, K. D., Wilkinson, K. S., Scott, L. J., Lange, C. L., Schutze, J.K., Merritt, D. J. and Graham, G. C. (2003). Population genetics and migration of the lepidopteran pest, Helicoverpa armigera over a two year period in Australia. The International Conference on the Status of Plant & Animal Genome Research, Town & Country Hotel, San Diego, CA, January 11-15, 2003. New York, USA: Scherago International Inc.
Merritt, D. J. (2002). Regulation of bioluminescence in Australian glow-worms. 5th International Congress of Depterology, UQ, Queensland, Australia, 29 September - 4 October, 2002. Queensland, Australia: Council of the International Congresses of Dipterology.
Data Collection
Merritt, David (2024). Data associated with paper "Photographic monitoring of glowworm Arachnocampa luminosa (Diptera, Keroplatidae) bioluminescence in a tourist cave". The University of Queensland. (Dataset) doi: 10.48610/1030f22
Research Report
Wilson, Clevo, Tisdell, Clem and Merritt, David (2004). Glow worms as a tourist attraction in Springbrook National Park: Visitor attitudes and economic issues. Working Papers on Economics, Ecology and Environment; no. 105 St. Lucia, Qld.: The University of Queensland School of Economics.