Laboratory investigations on the larval zoophagy of Ophyra capensis--an antagonist of Musca domestica.
Second and third instar larvae of Ophyra capensis are distinct predators. Although facultative, their zoophagy is so strong that they show cannibalism in the absence of prey. If house fly larvae are available, the predators can kill up to 17 prey per larva of the predator depending on the larval instar and the culture density. The highest effectiveness under laboratory conditions was observed at densities from 1.7 to 3.0 g substrate per larva from the culture and at a ratio between predators and prey from 1:6 to 1:12. Under these conditions the reduction of house fly numbers as a result of O. capensis action is over 70%. If the natural elimination during house fly development (in our experiments from the second larval instar up to the adult eclosion it is not less than 10%) also is taken into account, it seems that under these conditions at the most 20% of M. domestica can develop to the adult stage. The similar requirements of biotopes and substrates for the preadult development of O. capensis and M. domestica, the high predator activity and the big food portion give a good reason to conclude that O. capensis is a perspective agent for biological house fly control.
Tsankova
R N
RN
Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.
Luvchiev
V I
VI
D000818:Animals; D006793:Houseflies / Q000469:parasitology*; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology; D009117:Muscidae / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological