Diet nutriment and rearing density affect the growth of black blowfly larvae, Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

• Main Authors: Paul W.C. GREEN, Monique S.J. SIMMONDS, Wally M. BLANEY
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Science 2003-03-01
• Series: European Journal of Entomology
• Subjects: phormia regina; calliphoridae; protein; carbohydrate; nutrition; group rearing
• Online Access: https://www.eje.cz/artkey/eje-200301-0008_Diet_nutriment_and_rearing_density_affect_the_growth_of_black_blowfly_larvae_Phormia_regina_Diptera_Callipho.php

Larvae of Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) were reared, in isolation, upon either lamb's liver or meridic diets that varied in protein- and carbohydrate-content. An artificial diet containing 53% protein (by mass of dry ingredients) resulted in the heaviest P. regina pupae and shortest development time when compared with larvae reared upon lamb`s liver and all other diets. In diets where the concentration of protein was less than that of carbohydrate, the level of carbohydrate became important. In a diet containing 22.6% protein it was neither the diet with the highest (51%) nor lowest (17%) concentration of carbohydrate that adversely affected development. Specifically, an intermediate level of carbohydrate (33.9%) resulted in an extended larval period, together with increased mortality and reduced pupal weights. Larvae reared in groups of 10 on either liver or a diet containing 53% protein were heavier than those reared in isolation. Group-rearing hastened development on liver, but not on the meridic diet. The results are discussed in relation to the nutritional ecology of saprophagous calliphorids.