Immature Stages and Biology of two Blowfly Species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in Akwa lbom State, Nigeria.
DOI:36108/NJE/0002/71.0170
MFON S. EKANEM & EFFANGA J. USUA
ABSTRACT: Chrysomya chloropyga (Wiedemann) and Hemipyrellia fernandica (Macquart) are two common calliphorids in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Morphological descriptions are given of first, second, third instars, and puparia. Larval instars of C. chloropyga have segments with fusiform areas, and the posterior spiracle peritreme is incomplete and highly sclerotized. The peritreme in H. fernandica is complete and encloses a button. Developmental rates of C. chloropyga and H. fernandica from eggs to adults at a temperature range of 25° – 280C were 8.0 + 0.8 days and 15.6 + 1.4 days, respectively. Adult life span of C. chloropyga was 29.8 + 5.3 days and H. fernandica 29.8 + 4.5 days. Ecological niches of the two flies are described with respect to their degrees of synanthropy and food preferences.