Developmental Time, Mortality and Weight of Immature FIeshfIy Bercaea cruentata (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) Larvae Exposed to Mercury

Abstract

The total developmental time of the fleshfly, Bercaea cruentata (Meigen) reared on ground beef media treated with mercuric chloride solution (Hg concentrations of 0, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ug/g dry ground beef), from first-instar larvae to adult was 20.5, 20.5, 20.9, 20.9, 20.9 and 21.1 days and 20.3, 20.3, 20.7, 20.4, 20.5 and 20.8 days for males and females, respectively. There was no significant correlation (p > 0.05) between mercury concentrations and developmental time (larvae, pupae and total), mortality (larvae, pupae and total) and weights (pupae and adults). The immature stages of the fleshfly B. cruentata proved to be highly tolerant to mercury.