Maggots cannot live on meat meal alone: production parameters for mass rearing of the ovoviviparous blowfly, Calliphora dubia (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Authors

David F. Cook, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Muhammad Shoaib Tufail, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Sasha C. Voss, The University of Western Australia
Elliot T. Howse, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western AustraliaFollow
Ella K. Rogers, The University of Western Australia

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-22-2024

Journal Title

Journal of Economic Entomology

ISSN

Print: 0022-0493 Electronic: 1938-291X

Disciplines

Entomology | Fruit Science | Horticulture

Abstract

This study determined a cost-effective larval diet for rearing Calliphora dubia Macquart for use as a potential managed pollinator in Australia. This fly has potential as a pollination species to support honey bees (Apis mellifera). Larvae of C. dubia were reared mostly in meat meals with varying amounts of either whole egg powder, whole eggs (+ shell), bran flakes, skimmed milk powder, brewer’s yeast, or poultry oil. This was done from an economic and production perspective to support commercial rearing. Several laboratory-based studies determined the growth and output from various ingredient combinations. Larvae fed 90% meat meal and 10% whole egg powder developed rapidly through to pupation with a high pupation rate, adult size, and percent adult emergence. Given the high cost and difficulty in sourcing whole egg powder, media comprising mostly meat meals with the addition of bran flakes and whole eggs also supported rapid larval development, pupation rate, and adult emergence. The ideal amount of media/larvae was 0.5 g/larvae to support high pupation rates and adult emergence. Adult eclosion occurred over 4–5 days, even when larvae were laid and fed within 1 h on ample media. Commercial mass rearing would then require daily cohorts of larvae to ensure peak adult fly emergence over 1–2 days for release into a crop. Mass-rearing C. dubia should use meat meal as the base ingredient with bran flakes and whole eggs added and fed at 0.5 g of media/larvae. Based on the current media ingredient costs, rearing 1-m adult C. dubia would cost just over $500 (US$342).

Recommended Citation

Cook, D F, Tufail, M S, Voss, S C, Howse, E T, and Rogers, E K. (2024), Maggots cannot live on meat meal alone: production parameters for mass rearing of the ovoviviparous blowfly, Calliphora dubia (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Journal of Economic Entomology, 117 (3), 750-761.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/hc_researchart/4