[Effect of feeding on different tissues on larva development of Lucilia sericata]

To observe the effect of feeding on different pig tissues on the development of Lucilia sericata larvae.

Under a constant temperature of 25 degrees C, about 200 larvae each were reared on four different substrates, i.e. pig's brain, liver, muscle and a mixture of minced pork muscle and fat (6:4). Length and weight of larvae and pupae were measured at 12 h interval 16 h after eclosion. The time of development, mortality, sex ratio of adults were recorded.

Compared to the other groups, the larvae of liver and mixture groups grew slower, time of reaching maximum length and weight was delayed for 12-24 h. The duration of larva development of liver group [(284.0 +/- 12.6) h] was longer than that of brain group [(257.0 +/- 11.9) h], muscle group [(258.0 +/- 10.2) h] and mixture group [(260.0 +/- 9.8) h] (P < 0.05). The mean maximum larva length and weight in mixture group [(11.85 +/- 0.36) mm, (40.4 +/- 0.2) mg] and liver group [(12.01 +/- 0.43) mm, (42.8 +/- 0.4) mg] was statistically less than that of brain group and muscle group (P < 0.05). The pupal length and weight in mixture group [(7.81 +/- 0.60) mm, (38.4 +/- 2.4) mg] was less than that of other three groups (P < 0.05). The larval and pupal mortality of mixture group [(9.8 +/- 2.4)% and (10.3 +/- 1.8)%] was statistically higher than that of other three groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the sex ratio among the four groups (P > 0.05).

The development duration of the larvae fed on liver tissue is longer than other groups, and the larvae body length and weight of liver group are less than other groups. The body length and weight of larvae and pupae fed on mixture diet are less than other groups with higher mortality.