How Rearing Systems for Various Species of Flies Benefit Humanity

Abstract

Flies (Diptera) have played a prominent role in human history, and several fly species are reared at different scales and for different beneficial purposes worldwide. Here, we review the historical importance of fly rearing as a foundation for insect rearing science and technology and synthesize information on the uses and rearing diets of more than 50 fly species in the families Asilidae, Calliphoridae, Coelopidae, Drosophilidae, Ephydridae, Muscidae, Sarcophagidae, Stratiomyidae, Syrphidae, Tachinidae, Tephritidae, and Tipulidae. We report more than 10 uses and applications of reared flies to the well-being and progress of humanity. We focus on the fields of animal feed and human food products, pest control and pollination services, medical wound therapy treatments, criminal investigations, and on the development of several branches of biology using flies as model organisms. We highlight the relevance of laboratory-reared Drosophila melanogaster Meigen as a vehicle of great scientific discoveries that have shaped our understanding of many biological systems, including the genetic basis of heredity and of terrible diseases such as cancer. We point out key areas of fly-rearing research such as nutrition, physiology, anatomy/morphology, genetics, genetic pest management, cryopreservation, and ecology. We conclude that fly rearing is an activity with great benefits for human well-being and should be promoted for future advancement in diverse and innovative methods of improving existing and emerging problems to humanity.

Larval Rearing and Nutrition of the Polyphagous Tephritid Pest Anastrepha ludens on Artificial Diets with Calcium Alginate, Agar, or Carrageenan as Gelling Agents at Various Concentrations and across Extreme Larval Density Conditions

“…Calcium ions adversely affect bacterial nitrogen fixation, as shown in model plant species [77], and symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria species have been reported in tephritids such as Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), and A. ludens [78][79][80]. However, there is still very little information on the role of the microbiota of Diptera in general and of A. ludens in particular in their digestion processes, nutrient absorption, development, and physical performance [81]. Dietary calcium also plays an active role in regulating the mechanical power of the indirect flight muscles in insects [82], and here we showed that flies from calcium alginate diets had a lower proportion of flying individuals compared with the flies from the agar and carrageenan diets that had no calcium (Figure 3m).…”

Manipulating larval rearing media to optimise mass production of the blow fly Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

“…Rearing of calliphorid larvae has seen the use of different meat-based products and tissue types primarily from a forensic context to improve the calculation of a post-mortem interval (PMI) from fly larvae collected on human remains. Rearing calliphorid larvae has been especially prominent in the context of providing 'maggot therapy' to improve healing of infected wounds (Mumcuoglu 2001;Pascacio-Villaf an & Cohen 2023). The scale of this rearing however is small compared with the potential mass rearing of calliphorid flies for field release to provide a pollination service (several million flies).…”

“…The mass rearing of flies has benefitted humans across a range of biological and medical fields (Pascacio‐Villafán & Cohen 2023). Rearing of calliphorid larvae has seen the use of different meat‐based products and tissue types primarily from a forensic context to improve the calculation of a post‐mortem interval (PMI) from fly larvae collected on human remains.…”

Can the Necrophagous Blow Fly Calliphora vicina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Be Reared on Plant-Based Meal?

“…This study examined rearing of the oviparous calliphorid C. vicina for use as a potential managed pollination species. The mass rearing of flies has provided benefits to society across a range of biological and medical fields [10]. The European blue-bottle blow fly (C. vicina) (formerly known as C. erythrocephala [11]) has been identified as a potential insect pollination species for the horticultural industry.…”