Preliminary Observations of the Effects of Phencyclidine in Decomposing Tissues on the Development of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

Larvae of Parasarcophaga ruficornis (Fabricius) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) were reared on tissues from rabbits administered different dosages of phencyclidine to study the effects of this drug on the development of this insect species. The rabbits were given 3.66, 7.31, and 14.62 mg of phencyclidine via ear vein infusion. No significant differences in larval growth rate were observed among the colonies, although the duration of the non-feeding portion of the third instar was shorter for larvae fed on tissues containing the drug. Mortality during the larval stage was directly related to the dosage of phencyclidine administered, ranging from 0 in the control colony to 29.0% in the colony fed on tissues from the rabbit receiving 14.62 mg of phencyclidine. Durations of the puparial stage were longer for colonies fed on tissues containing the drug. Presence of phencyclidine was detected in larvae from all colonies fed on tissues from rabbits receiving the phencyclidine using GC/MS.