Abstract
The reproductive performances were compared of adult stable flies, Stomoxys Calcitrans (L.), fed fresh porcine or bovine blood or reconstituted, freeze-dried porcine or bovine blood. Adult stable flies fed fresh or reconstituted, freeze-dried porcine blood oviposited significantly more eggs than adults fed fresh or freeze-dried bovine blood. No decline in fecundity was observed for adults maintained for 10 successive generations on fresh porcine blood or on reconstituted, freeze-dried porcine or bovine blood. However, fecundity of adults maintained on fresh, heparinized bovine blood declined in later generations. The data provide evidence that stable fly adults can be maintained successfully on reconstituted, freeze-dried blood, and that porcine blood is nutritionally superior to the blood of cattle.