REPLACEMENT TIMES, STORAGE, AND VERTEBRATE HOST SOURCE OF BLOOD FOR IN-VITRO FEEDING OF HAEMATOBIA-IRRITANS (DIPTERA, MUSCIDAE) ADULTS

Studies were conducted to determine optimum replacement intervals, sto rage times, and vertebrate source of blood used to feed Haematobia irr itans (L.) adults in vitro. Feeding success was measured by the total number of larvae produced per female during 10-d experimental periods which combined adult female survival, egg production, and egg hatch. T he number of larvae per female was reduced significantly when blood re placement intervals were increased from 24 to 48 h; however, blood rep lacement intervals could be increased to 48 h without affecting larval production if the blood was agitated continuously. Maximum larval pro duction was obtained when adult flies fed on whole, citrated bovine bl ood that had been stored at 3-degrees-C for 2 wk; however, there was n o difference in the number of larvae produced per female when adults w ere fed blood stored at -20-degrees-C for 2-52 wk. Significantly more larvae were produced when adults fed on citrated porcine blood than bo vine or ovine blood.