New Diets for Production of House Flies and Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in the Laboratory

A diet for rearing the house fly, Musca domestica (L.), was developed from feed constituents available on a year-round basis in Gainesville, FL. The diet, called the Gainesville House Fly Diet, performed as well or better than the Chemical Specialties Manufacturers' Association fly larval medium (CSMA) and can be mixed, bagged, and delivered by a local feed mill within 3 d. By adding pelleted peanut hulls 1:1 by volume, the house fly diet becomes suitable for rearing the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). Use of these diets and the economics involved are discussed further.