5 (1) vet entomology Flashcards
What is the order that includes flies?
Diptera
What are the key characteristics of Diptera?
- One pair of wings
- Reduced second pair called halteres
- Variable mouthparts
What type of metamorphosis do Diptera undergo?
Holometabolous (complete metamorphosis)
What are the four stages of Diptera metamorphosis?
- Egg
- Larva (maggot)
- Pupa
- Adult
Name the two suborders of Diptera.
- Nematocera - Long-horned flies
- Brachycera - short-horned flies
- Cyclorrhapha - circular-seamed flies (house fly group)
What are the defining features of the Nematocera suborder?
- Antennae longer than head and thorax combined
- Male antennae plumose
- Relatively long legs
- Larvae usually aquatic or in moist soil
List some families of interest within the Nematocera suborder.
- Tipulidae: Crane flies
- Psychodidae: Sand flies and moth flies
- Ceratopogonidae: Biting midges
- Chironomidae: Midges
- Simuliidae: Black flies
- Culicidae: Mosquitoes
What is a characteristic of the Brachycera suborder?
Large, robust flies with antennas of 5 or fewer segments, typically shorter than head and thorax combined
Name a family of interest within the Brachycera suborder.
Tabanidae: horse and deer flies
What defines the Cyclorrhapha suborder?
3-segmented, aristate antennae
List some families of interest within the Cyclorrhapha suborder.
- Chloropidae: eye gnats
- Syrphidae: syrphid flies
- Calliphoridae: blow flies
- Sarcophagidae: flesh flies
- Muscidae: house flies
- Glossinidae: tsetse flies
- Oestridae: bot flies
- Hippoboscidae: louse flies
What are the notable characteristics of the Tipulidae family?
- Resemble giant mosquitoes
- Very long legs
- No functioning mouthparts in adults
- Adults are non-feeding
What is the veterinary relevance of the Tipulidae family?
No veterinary relevance but often mistaken for giant mosquitoes
What are the characteristics of the Chironomidae family?
- Resemble mosquitoes
- Long front legs
- No piercing/sucking mouthparts
- Larvae are aquatic and known as ‘bloodworms’
What is the veterinary relevance of the Chironomidae family?
No veterinary relevance but frequently mistaken for mosquitoes
What are the characteristics of the Syrphidae family?
- Bee mimics, hover flies
- Medium to large-sized
- Brightly colored, yellow and black
- Do not bite or sting
What are the characteristics of the Chloropidae family?
- Grass flies, eye gnats
- Small, typically black or grey
- Associated with grassy meadows and fields
- Feed on animal secretions
What issues are associated with the Chloropidae family?
- Annoyance
- Irritation
- Transmission of bacteria causing pinkeye
What are the characteristics of the Calliphoridae family?
- Blow flies, bottle flies
- Large, metallic-colored
- Associated with myiasis
- Important in forensic entomology
What are the characteristics of the Psychodidae family?
- Small, short-legged
- Scale-like setae on wings
- Larvae develop in shallow, polluted water
What is the veterinary significance of sand flies?
- Blood-feeding in females
- Important vectors for Leishmaniasis
What is the vector for Vesicular stomatitis virus?
Lutzomyia spp. sand flies
What are the symptoms of Vesicular stomatitis virus in livestock?
- Blisters in and around the mouth and feet
- Infected animals may cease to eat/drink
- Similar symptoms to foot-and-mouth disease
What are the primary vectors for Leishmaniasis?
- Lutzomyia spp. (New World)
- Phlebotomus spp. (Old World)
