title: A review of the natural history and laboratory culture methods for the yellow dung fly, Scathophaga stercoraria.
abstract: The yellow dung fly Scathophaga stercoraria (L.) (Diptera: Scathophagidae) is a widespread and locally abundant fly associated with the dung of large mammals, especially farm animals. This species has recently become a standard test organism for evaluating toxic effects of veterinary pharmaceuticals in livestock dung. In this context, a review of its natural history and a general description of the field and laboratory rearing methods of this species are provided here to benefit the scientific community as well as government regulators and applicants of eco-toxicological studies. For guidance, means and ranges are included for all relevant standard life history traits stemming from previously published data on Swiss populations.
authors.affiliation: Zoological Museum, University of Zürich-Irchel, 34-J-98 Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Switzerland. wolf.blanckenhorn@ieu.uzh.ch
authors.forename: W U
authors.initials: WU
authors.lastname: Blanckenhorn
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.forename: L F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Bussière
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roembke
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Floate
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D012098:Reproduction