Experimental colonization and Life Table of the Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

Abstract

The urban bluebottle blow fly, Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy), is considered a valuable tool in forensic entomology. The adult flies collected from Tehran, Iran. The colonies were established. The rearing process was continued until fifth generation. The life table of C. vicina was evaluated with two diets in laboratory. For the life table study from fifth generation, the eggs were collected from cage and put on cow meat and artificial food as two food regimens. The duration of life cycle of C. vicina was determined based only on cow meat in five consecutive generations (F2 to F6). Results of this research showed significant differences between two diets in mortality rates. It is cleared that cow meat is more efficient in the developmental process of all the life cycle stages of C. vicina. Also the overall development time from egg to adult stage of C. vicina was 384±20 hours.