title: A fresh liver agar substrate for rearing small numbers of forensically important blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae).
abstract: Forensically important calliphorids can be reared on a mixture of beef liver and agar. Small pieces of meat, especially fresh or frozen beef liver, will desiccate in 2-6 h, but this simple-to-make feeding substrate remains moist for at least 12 h at 25 and 30 degrees C without desiccation, even in small (5 g) amounts. We determined the survivorship of small numbers of Chrysomya megacephala (F.) (first-instar larvae to adult eclosion) raised on 5 g of liver agar and fresh beef liver. We found that all larvae raised on 5 g of liver died due to desiccation, but survivorship on 5 g of liver agar was equivalent to that on larger (50 g) pieces of either liver agar or beef liver.
authors.forename: Susan V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Gruner
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Slone
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar / Q000737:chemistry*; D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D004175:Diptera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D049429:Forensic Pathology; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry*; D008136:Longevity; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000362:Agar