Laboratory Culture and Biology of Orthellia caesarion1 with Notes on Determining Larval Instars2

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Abstract
A culture of O. caesarion (Meigen) was maintained in the laboratory on a diet of distilled water, cattle manure, malt soup extract, non-fat dry milk, and an artificial preparation for adult house flies. Musca domestica L. The culture was reared at 90±2°F, 50–55% relative humidity, and under constant light. The puparia were held at 72± 2°F in petri dishes containing a moist filter paper. The life cycle averaged 19.1 days—legg 12 hours, larva 4.3 days, pupa 7.3 days, and preoviposition 7 days. After eclosion, first-instar larvae were present in the rearing medium up to 8½ hours. 2nd instar from 2 to 33 and 3rd instar from 15 hours to pupation. The sex ratio was 3 females to 4 males. Each female produced an average of 46.9 puparia. Maximum fecundity, based on puparia recovery, occurred between an average of 8 and 28 days after adult emergence. Characteristics of the cephalopharyngeal skeleton and the posterior spiracles were used to determine the stage of larval development.

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