In vivo rearing and development of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae).

ABSTRACT

Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner, 1862) has a seasonal cycle from May to September. The main objective of the current study is the rearing and development in the laboratory, outside its natural life cycle. The free and obligate parasite phases were reared in the laboratory during 7 mo, from 16 September to 26 March. Between 97.49 and 98.27% of the third instars reached the pupal stage (at 24 degrees C and under natural light cycle). Between 73.98 and 92.24% of the pupae developed into adults (at 70% RH and 22 degrees C). In the induced cycle the ratio of females to males was between 1.871.00 and 1.401.00, at 70% RH and 24 degrees C. In the trials involving the diapause pupae, 35.29% emerged as adults during a period of 53 d (from 23 January to 20 March), when held at an average storage temperature of 18 degrees C. Eighty-five percent emerged during 2 d (23 and 24 February) when the storage temperature was 4 degrees C.