A fresh liver agar substrate for rearing small numbers of forensically important blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Journal of Medical Entomology
By:  and 

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Abstract

Forensically important calliphorids can be reared on a mixture of beef liver and agar. Small pieces of meat, especially fresh or frozen beef liver, will desiccate in 2–6 h, but this simple-to-make feeding substrate remains moist for at least 12 h at 25 and 30°C without desiccation, even in small (5 g) amounts. We determined the survivorship of small numbers of Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (first-instar larvae to adult eclosion) raised on 5 g of liver agar and fresh beef liver. We found that all larvae raised on 5 g of liver died due to desiccation, but survivorship on 5 g of liver agar was equivalent to that on larger (50 g) pieces of either liver agar or beef liver.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title A fresh liver agar substrate for rearing small numbers of forensically important blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae)
Series title Journal of Medical Entomology
DOI 10.1603/ME13070
Volume 51
Issue 3
Year Published 2014
Language English
Publisher Entomological Society of America
Contributing office(s) Southeast Ecological Science Center
Description 3 p.
First page 713
Last page 715
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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