250 



High larval densities should be maintained for maximum development 

 of larvae. Less than 25 larvae per 300 ml of diet resulted in increased 

 larval mortality. Fortification of the larval diet significantly in- 

 creased larval viability. 



The influence of Larvae of Hermetia illucens 

 on Other Species of Fly Larvae 



Larval development of M. domestica, 0. aenesceyis, and S. robusta 

 was not completely suppressed when each species was reared individually 

 in containers v/ith larvae of H. illucens. Earlier attempts to demon- 

 strate complete suppression of other fly species by H. illucens in the 

 laboratory were inconclusive (Fletcher et al., 1956; Furman et al., 1959) 



Soldier fly larvae tend to remain on the bottoms of the rearing 

 containers and the C.S.M.A. in these areas becomes very slimy. The 

 slime does not repel the larvae of M. domestica, 0. aenescens, or 

 S. robusta or otherwise keep them from entering these areas, but it may 

 somehow inhibit their development. 



The order in which the fly species were affected by H. illucens was 

 M. domestica > S. robusta > 0. aenescens. This was expected for M, 

 domestica since other experiments indicated that H. illucens would not 

 allow M. domestica to develop at all (Furman et al., 1959). These re- 

 sults were not expected for S. robusta with a larval development period 

 lasting only 3 days. S. robusta larvae prefer wetter habitats than 

 M. domestica and perhaps this brought them into closer contact with 

 H. illucens. Larvae of 0. aenescens were affected least of all by 

 H. illucens larvae. Mortality rates for H. illucens larvae indicate 

 that they were not being preyed upon by 0. aenescens. Ovhyra larvae 

 may not be able to penetrate the soldier fly cuticle. 



