Effect of Temperature and Tissue Type on the Development of Myiasis Causing Fly; Chrysomya bezziana (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

<p><i>Chrysomya bezziana</i> Villeneuve is the major human myiasis producer in tropical countries, including Sri Lanka. Although of great medical and veterinary importance, only a single study has been published on the development of <i>C. bezziana</i>. This limitation is due in part to the difficulty of maintaining this species in a colony outside of using a living host. In this study, a novel technique that overcomes this limitation is presented along with development data for <i>C. bezziana</i> fed on three different meat types: swine muscle, swine liver, and bovine muscle at two temperature regimes: 35 and 37°C. The optimum development of <i>C. bezziana</i> was recorded at 35°C in bovine muscle (262.20 h) followed by swine muscle (286.00 h) and swine liver (307.00 h). Data from the current study indicate tissue type significantly impacts change in length and width of larvae over time, whereas the two temperatures examined had no significant effect.</p>