The breeding of house fly; Musca domestica L., using different substrates in Uyo Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study on the breeding of housefly; Musca domestica, using different substrates in a closed environment was carried out in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State,  Nigeria. Four substrates; bread, milk, decomposed cow bones, and poultry manure were obtained from different locations within Uyo metropolis. More  care was given to collecting of cow bones and poultry manure to ensure that they were free of maggots. The dry substrates were sprinkled with 0.5 L of  sterile distilled water. A measure of 50 g of each of the substrates were made using digital measuring scales and placed in the breeding media. Each  substrate was placed inside the transparent glass box; breeding media. Fly attractant; 0.1 kg was added to each of the substrate inside the box. The four  boxes with the substrates treated with fly attractant were exposed for 5 hours for natural egg deposition by houseflies. The temperature and humidity of  each of the breeding media and treated substrate were taken and recorded. The results revealed that bread plus milk substrate producing more larvae (1  - 10 days) (90.00±5.51) and more adults (22 – 35 days) (84.33±2.85), followed by wet cow bones (45.67±17.95), and wet bread only (21.67±14.81). Bread  plus milk substrate produced total occurrence of the larvae and adults of 74.33±9.72, while wet bread substrate alone produced 29.22±8.22. The occurrence of larvae (1- 10 days) and adults (22-35 days) across the substrates was significantly different at p value of 0.007 and 0.000 respectively. The  results obtained indicate that bread plus milk substrate present a better condition for the development of the immature and adults’ states of the housefly  as compared to other substrates. Therefore, all decomposing organic materials should be properly disposed to avoid the outburst of houseflies’  population in the environment and its nuisance to human and animals.