247 



Jphyra aenesoens Larvae as Predators of Musaa domestica Larvae 

 In the competition study, M. domestica viability was suppressed 

 significantly by 0. aenesoens in all cases (Table 12). This was indica- 

 tive of predation but not proof. When larvae of 0. aenesoens were reared 

 in vermiculite, the daily addition of house fly larvae as a possible food 

 source significantly reduced the mortality rate of 0. aenesoens in all 

 cases (Table 14). Attempts to rear 0. aenesoens larvae in vermiculite 

 failed when no house fly larvae were added. This confirmed that larvae 

 of 0. aenesoens are not cannibalistic, but they are predators of house 

 fly larvae. Predation by 0. aenesoens was also observed during the 

 study. 



Peck (1969) proved that 0. leuoostoma, a sister species also found 

 in poultry manure, is predaceous upon house fly larvae using a vermicu- 

 lite study similar to the one i used. Studies indicated that each 

 larva of 0. aenesoens could destroy more than 20 house fly larvae 

 during the 5 - day larval feeding period. Larvae of 0. leuoostoma were 

 found to destroy from 20 (Anderson and Poorbaugh, 1964b) to 30.6 (Peck, 

 1969) house fly larvae during their developmental period. 



Anderson and Poorbaugh (1964b) stated that when house fly larvae 

 were added to cups of vermiculite containing larvae of 0. leuoostoma, 

 they were chased out of the vermiculite by the 0. leuoostoma larvae. 

 Ovhyra leuoostoma larvae killed more house fly larvae than they could 

 eat and dead larvae attracted more house fly larvae. This enabled 

 0. leuoostoma to increase the number of house fly kills (Anderson and 

 Poorbaugh, 1964b). 



