Comparative rearing of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in dead and living tissues and the impact of cold storage on pupal survival.

Larvae from adults of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner) emerging from pupal cold storage (4 degrees C for 80-100 d) were reared in wound and dead tissues. Of 2,150 first instars placed on a mixture of muscle + liver in a climate-controlled room, 47.1% molted to 2nd instar, 6.1% to 3rd instar, and 4.6% pupated. Two females emerged from these pupae after 14 d. To synchronize adult emergence, 191 pupae that were reared in living or dead tissues and were 2, 8, and 11 d old were cold-stored in lots according to age. Adult emergence was greatest in pupae of 2-d-old (57.1%) and, pupae developing in living and dead tissues, 22.5 and 8.7%, respectively. When the experiment was repeated with cold-stored pupae from 0 to 11 d old, developing in living tissues, the highest emergence was again in 2-d-old pupae (55.0%). These data have important implications for the control of adult emergence which may be used in further biological studies.