Improved mass rearing of Australian sheep blow fly (Lucilia cuprina, Diptera: Calliphoridae) for sterile insect technique application

<p dir="ltr">Sterile insect technique (SIT) is being established for management of Australian sheep blowflies (SBF), <i>Lucilia cuprina</i>, which have significant welfare and economic impacts on sheep production in Australia. SIT requires economical mass production of insects. This project provides guidance for adult diets and pupation substrates for SBF mass production. Yeast hydrolysate is the current standard protein source for adults, but is expensive. To identify potential alternatives, efficacy of four different protein sources for adult diet was assessed (yeast hydrolysate and the cheaper alternatives of whey protein, chicken blood and lamb liver). Yeast hydrolysate performed the best in terms of both number and quality of offspring, producing the most eggs with the highest hatching percentage, and is recommended as the preferred adult protein source. Efficacy of five different pupation substrates was evaluated (vermiculite, sawdust, perlite, cat litter pellets and sand). The highest pupal weight was recorded from sand and vermiculite. Adult emergence was similar for all substrates except perlite, which was lower. Efficacy of substrate volume to larval volume and light for SBF pupation were also assessed. In terms of fly number, quality and ease of handling, vermiculite at 2.5:1 ratio of substrate: larvae by volume in darkness is recommended for SBF mass rearing.</p>