Rearing and Culturing Musca sorbens Wied. in the Laboratory

Abstract

SummarySeveral artificial media were tested in an attempt to eliminate the use of human faeces as oviposition and early larval habitats for breeding Musca sorbens Wied. in the laboratory. Eggs, laid on cotton-wool pads moistened with diluted milk or, preferably, on small quantities (10–15 g.) of human excrement, were transferred to the breeding medium. The best of those tested was a mixture of coarse wheat bran (120 g.) and diluted milk (240 g.), which yielded normal healthy larvae and adults. The average weight of a puparium produced in this medium was somewhat less than that of one produced in human excrement.