Studies on the Nutrition of Blow-Fly Larvae

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Abstract
1. Lucilia larvae fail to grow at the usual rate when reared aseptically on sterile unheated muscle (guinea-pig). Infection with B. coli, a non-liquefying organism which does not form ammonia, restores normal growth. 2. Adding yeast extract to muscle produces the same effect on larval growth as infection with bacteria. 3. It is therefore concluded that muscle is deficient in a growth-promoting factor which is normally supplied by the natural flora; also, that bacterial action is not essential for the liquefaction of the muscle. 4. From preliminary experiments the growth factor does not appear to be identical with vitamin B1 or B2. Yeast extract which has been autoclaved at an alkaline reaction retains most of its activity and is not less potent than ox-liver extract. 5. When larvae are reared aseptically on muscle, they feed at first on the serum owing to the persistence of the acid reaction. However, this does not explain their slow development since sterile larvae grow well on beef juice.