2005 Volume 20 Issue 1 Pages 5-9
Plastic cups containing cuttings of a melon (rind), banana, japanese persimmon, pear (core), ham (slices), or used green tea leaves were placed at the window with slits in a bath room for 9-12 days in September and October in 1999. Occurring adults, pupae, and larvae of small flies were detected on the 12-17th day. Although many fruit flies, Drosophila melanogaster, occurred from the banana, pear, and Japanese persimmon containers, no or very few phorid flies, Megaselia (Aphiochaeta) spiracularis, were found in the containers. In the melon container, however, the number of phorid flies (pupae) was greater than that of the fruit flies (adults) on the 12th day. Very many phorid flies (adults and pupae), Megaselia (Aphiochaeta) spiracularis, were found in the ham container, and very few fruit flies (pupae only) were obtained in the container. Many small moth flies, Psychoda severini Tonir and/or Psychodocha itoco and several phorid flies and minute black scavengers, Scatopse fuscipes, occurred in the green tea grounds container. So many small moth flies had been found invading rooms from outdoor environment, and the results obtained here indicate that they could develop in decaying materials, not necessarily in drain or sewage conditions with ample water.
