Development of a Synthetic Medium for Aseptic Rearing of Larvae of Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)1

Abstract

A synthetic medium was formulated for rearing larvae of Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) aseptically. All the components were chemically defined with the exception of an aqueous extract from baker's yeast, without which development did not proceed beyond the first instar. The per cent survival of the larvae reared on this medium was almost as high as that of larvae reared on a nonaseptic medium. However the development time was somewhat longer. No attempt was made to determine which of the diet constituents were essential, or their optimum levels.