Development of <i>Chrysomya chloropyga</i> (wied.) and <i>Musca domestica</i> (Linn.) (Diptera: muscoidea) on some animal faecal samples

Abstract

Cow, dog, goat and poultry faeces and the control medium of rice and fish supported the development of eggs in female C. chloropyga and M. domestica. Eggs of C. Chloropyga laid on the cow, dog goat and poultry as well as those of M. domestica laid on cow faeces did not hatch. Dog, goat and poultry faeces serve as useful nutrient for development of M. domestica and compete favourably with the control medium. Poultry faeces on which eggs were first laid by both species demonstrated its protein quality which contained 19.10% crude protein while cow faeces with 3.81% crude protein least supported egg development. Mean total days of development was 11.00 ± 0.00 days in the control medium which was significantly different from that of dog, goat and poultry faeces which were 13.75 ± 0.63, 14.75 ± 1.31 and 13.50 ± 0.29 days respectively. Mean weights of first and second instar larvae of M. domestica from faecal samples were not significantly different but was significant when compared with the control. Mean weights of 3rd instar larvae were significantly different. There was no difference in the weights of newly emerged adult male and female M. domestica reared on control medium, dog, goat and
poultry faeces. Sex ratios of emerging adult M. domestica from control, goat and poultry were 1:2 (male: female) and 1:3 (male: female) for those from dog faeces. It is therefote apparent that faeces of domestic animals including cow, dog, goat and poultry that litter our surrounding will proliferate blowfly C. chloropyga and housefly M. domestica.

Keywords: Development, Chrysomya chloropyga, Musca domestica, feacal samples.