Rearing Chrysomya megacephala on artificial diets composed of varying concentrations of albumin

Abstract

Larvae of the blowfly Chrysomya megacephala were reared on an artificial diet composed of five different concentrations of albumin (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10%) and the control group was fed on putrid bovine meat. No larvae developed in the 2 and 10% albumin concentrations.

Bionomics of two forensically important blowfly species Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya putoria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) reared on four types of diet

“…The sex ratio of adults of both dipteran species ranged from 0.5 to 0.6 and was not affected by diet. This absence of biased sex ratios was also reported for other calliphorid species reared on semisynthetic diets, e.g., Sarconesia chlorogaster [24], C. megacephala [5] and Lucilia cuprina [25]. On the other hand, the mortality was considerably higher in the egg-based diet, which underlines the need to carefully evaluate the composition and/or quantity of eggs incorporated into any diet.…”

“…On the other hand, the mortality was considerably higher in the egg-based diet, which underlines the need to carefully evaluate the composition and/or quantity of eggs incorporated into any diet. Mendonça and Queiroz [5] tested several albumin rich diets and observed viability in rearing C. megacephala populations, but in that study also, a better performance was achieved when larvae were fed on minced beef. The fact that egg based diet -from the four substrates tested herehad the lowest fat content may explain not only a higher mortality but also the lowest weight, since lipids -such as cholesterol -are key factors in promoting growth among blowfly larvae [17].…”

“…To overcome these obstacles, semi-synthetic diets have been increasingly used in studies of bionomics of necrophagous insects, since they are relatively homogeneous and reproducible media of known composition that can be produced consistently using simple laboratory facilities [4,5]. For the development of a suitable semisynthetic diet several criteria must be met, such as the absence of detrimental effects on the insect's life traits (e.g., size, weight, survival, fecundity), ease of production and conservation, low cost, and reproducibility when compared to the insect's natural diet.…”

“…For the development of a suitable semisynthetic diet several criteria must be met, such as the absence of detrimental effects on the insect's life traits (e.g., size, weight, survival, fecundity), ease of production and conservation, low cost, and reproducibility when compared to the insect's natural diet. Several attempts at obtaining semi-synthetic diets that mimic the properties of the insect's original food have been made, with variable degrees of success, for rearing calliphorid species such as Chrysomya albiceps [6], Chrysomya megacephala [5], Cochliomyia hominivorax [7] and Lucilia sericata [4,8].…”

Ultrastructure of larvae and puparia of the blowfly Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

“…C. putoria and C. megacephala puparia also appear very similar by light microscopy, but using SEM, some folds could be seen on C. megacephala. Amorim and Ribeiro (2001) reported the distance between the peritrema as the most important feature to distinguish between these species, but according to Mendonça et al (2009), the availability of food to larval instar affects larval and pupal size directly.…”