In vitro rearing oestrus caucasicus third-instar larvae and pupae (Diptera: Oestridae) from naturally-infested Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica (Artiodactyla: Bovidae)

Abstract

Third-instar Oestrus caucasicus larvae (n = 236) obtained from Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica, were reared in a laboratory to obtain adult flies. They were maintained at a temperature of 21.9 ± 2.7°C and a relative humidity of 38.9 ± 8.0 %. In all, 78 imagos emerged (33.1 %), with a sex-ratio at emergence not differing significantly from 1:1; 25 larvae did not complete pupariation. A total of 14 adult flies (17.9 % of the adults obtained) showed malformations, mainly in their wings. The pupariation period lasted around 30 hours and the pupal stage lasted on average 29.8 ± 6.8 days. The success of pupation in both sexes was mainly determined by the weight of the larvae. Sexual dimorphism, with higher weights in females, was evident in third-instar larvae, pupae and adults. The mean longevity of adult flies was 224.8 ± 91.4 hours and males generally survived for longer than the females.