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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #305437
Title: Laboratory colonization of the blow flies, Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Author
item SWIGER, SONJA - University Of Florida
item Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry
item BUTLER, JERRY - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/6/2014
Publication Date: 10/25/2014
Citation: Swiger, S.L., Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Butler, J.F. 2014. Laboratory colonization of the blow flies, Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Chrysomya rufifacies (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 107(5):1780-1784.

Interpretive Summary: Studies were designed to develop laboratory colonization methods for Chrysomya rufifacies and utilize Chrysomya megacephala as its larval food source. Both fly species were collected in the wild and easily colonized. Ch. rufifacies and Ch. megacephala developed from egg to adult in 16.2 and 20.4 d, respectively. Ch. megacephala prefered a lower temperature for development and maintenance than did Ch. rufifacies, and Ch. rufifacies benefited from blood meal as a protein supplement to enhance egg production. Ch. rufifacies larvae were not observed to be cannibalistic and larvae of Ch. megacephala were not needed to serve as prey.

Technical Abstract: Chrysomya rufifacies is a blow fly commonly found in corpses at crime scene investigations. This study was designed to develop laboratory colonization methods for Ch. rufifacies and utilize Chrysomya megacephala as its larval food source. Both fly species were collected in the wild and easily colonized using conditioned chicken as a medium for oviposition and larval development. Ch. rufifacies and Ch. megacephala developed from egg to adult in 16.2 and 20.4 d, respectively. Ch. megacephala prefered a lower development and maintenance temperature than Ch. rufifacies, and Ch. rufifacies benefited from blood meal as a protein supplement to enhance egg production. Ch. rufifacies larvae were not observed to be cannibalistic and larvae of Ch. megacephala were not needed to serve as prey.