DEVELOPMENT OF IMMATURE STAGES OF THE HOUSEFLY, Musca domestica (DIPTERAL: MUSCIDAE) ON DIFFERENT MANURES IN BENIN CITY, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was carried out in the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, from June to August, 2013. Three organic manures (poultry manure collected from a poultry farm in the University of Benin; pig manure collected from a pig farm in Ugbighokho, Upper Ekehuan road and cow manure collected from a dairy farm located at Technical College road, all in Benin City, Nigeria), were used for the study. Exposure was done the day after collection and evaluation was made daily to ascertain the day each of the various developmental stages appeared. Egg to larva development took an average of 14 hours on the three manures. It took an average of 169 hours (7 days) and 187 hours (8 days) for the larvae to develop to pupae on poultry and pig manures respectively. No larva pupated in the cow manure. Adult eclosion took 261 hours (11 days) and 381 hours (16 days) on poultry and pig manure respectively. There was a high significant difference (P<0.01) in the time taken for each immature stage to develop to the next among the different manures. The mean size of the larvae of pig manure was 12mm while those of poultry and cow were 10mm and 9mm respectively. The mean length of the pupae was 4mm and 5mm on poultry and pig manures respectively. There were no pupae in the cow manure. There was a high significant difference (P<0.01) in the length of the lavae and pupae on the different manures. Poultry and pig manures recorded mean adult sizes of 4mm and 5mm respectively while no adult was recorded in cow manure. There was a high significant difference (P<0.01) in the sizes of M. Domestica bred on different manures with those in pig manure significantly longer than those in poultry manure. The average populations of immature stages of M. domestica in the different manures were: LARVAE = Poultry (228); pig (54), cow (06); PUPAE = Poultry (144); pig (42), cow (00); ADULT = Poultry (140); pig (40), cow (00). There was a high significant difference (P<0.01) in the population of immature stages of the housefly among the different substrates.