RESUMO

A larval survey of synantropic flies and their predators which breed in poultry manure accumulated in poultry farms was carried out in the State of São Paulo from January 1985 to December 1988. The following species were collected: Fanniidae (Fannia trimaculata), Muscidae (Musca domestic. Muscina stabulans, Stomoxys calcitrans, Syrphidae (Ornidia obesa), Stratiomyidae (Hermetia illucens) and Calliphoridae (Chysomya putoria). Larvae require high levels of humidity and suffer severe mortality when manure moisture drops from an optimal level of 55-80% moisture to less than 30%. The optimal level of moisture for larval development was: S. calcitrans 45-55%; M.domestic, F. trimaculata and M.stabulans 55-57%; C. putoria, H. illucens and O. obesa 75-80%. No larval development occurred in manure with less than 30% moisture. Coleopteran (Histeridae, Staphylinidae and Hydrophilidae) were the most important predators of the synantropic flies immatures. Carcinops troglodytes (Histeridae) and unidentified Aleocharinae and Staphylininae (Staphylinidae) were the most common. Specimens of Hemiptera (Anthocoridae), Hymenoptera (Formicidae), Dermaptera (Labiduridae) and Pseudocorpiones were found in manure with moisture levels below 45%. Coleoptera were more abundant in 30-75% moisture levels. The abundance of predators was above 75% of moisture level.