Equine, Cattle and Other Flies

Question 1

What is the Latin name and family of the stable fly?

Answer 1

Name- Stomoxys calcitrans
Family- Muscidae
Sucks Blood

Question 2

Where doe the stable fly (stomoxys calcitrans) breed and why?

Answer 2

breeds inside liveries, barns, stables

Eggs in dung, mixed with straw and urine, damp silage/sheltered compost heaps

Question 3

What species does stomoxys calcitrans effect?

Answer 3

Horses and cattle but will attack others

Question 4

Describe the life cycle of stomoxys calcitrans (stable fly)?

Answer 4

Eggs layer in barn etc, become 1st, 2nd 3rd larval stage, tans and becomes pupae, emerges into adult fly

Question 5

How long does it take a population of stable fly (stomoxys calcitran) to build up in summer?

Answer 5

Every 2-3 weeks

Question 6

Where do stomoxys calcitrans rest and mate?

Answer 6

Warm, sun exposed surfaces- gates, posts, farm machinery

Question 7

Where does the stable fly prefer to feed and what is the host response?

Answer 7

Prefers lower parts of animal- legs and flanks

Host responses- stamping feet, shivering the skin, rapid head turn, gadding

Question 8

What can stomoxys calcitran transmit and how?

Answer 8

Equine infections anaemia- mechanical transmission

Question 9

Describe the appaearence of hydrotaea irritans and what is the common name?

Answer 9

Rasping mouth parts
Orange wing base
Greenish abdomen
The Headfly

Question 10

What species does hyrotaea irritans effect?

Answer 10

Mainly horses, cattle, sheep, man

Rabbits and deer

Question 11

Describe the life cycle of hydrotaea irritans

Answer 11

Deposits eggs on pasture soil
Only one generation each summer in July
1st 2nd 3rd instars, pupa, adult

Question 12

What is normal behaviour for hydrotaea irritans and host response?

Answer 12

Exophillic (doesn’t enter buildings)
Typically on wooded pasture
Most active on overcast, warm, humid days
Host response- head turn, tail swishing

Question 13

What is the Latin name of the face fly and where is it found on cattle and horses?

Answer 13

Musca autumnalis

Eyes, muzzle and face

Question 14

Describe the lifecycle of Musca autumnalis

Answer 14

Develops in dung on pasture

Populations build up in late autumn

Question 15

What diseases can Musca autumnalis cause?

Answer 15

Cattle: new forest eye/pink eye
Horses and cattle- vector for eye/stomach worms
Main significance is nuisance

Question 16

What are the three species non biting muscidae flies?

Answer 16

Hydrotea irritans- the headfly
Musca autumnalis- the face fly
Musca domestica- house fly

Question 17

Is a tabanid a biting fly, what is the common name for them?

Answer 17

Yes

Horse fly

Question 18

Describe the appearance of a tabanid

Answer 18

Large body, large head, bulging iridescent eyes

Stubby mouthparts- blood pool feeders

Question 19

Describe the lifecycle of a tabanid

Answer 19

Breed in wet pasture, marshy land, edges of pons
One emergence- July/Aug
Active on sunny days

Question 20

What are the two species of tabanids of importance to the UK and how do their appearance differ?

Answer 20

Tabanus- large with clear wings

Haematopota- mottled wings

Question 21

What is the host response of tanabids and what can they be mechanical vectors of?

Answer 21

Host response- gadding, several often small blood meals

Vector- Equine infectious anaemia, trypanosomes, bovine anaplasmosis

Question 22

What is the genus name of biting midges?

Answer 22

Culicoides spp

Question 23

Describe the appearance of culicoides

Answer 23

Tiny 1-4mm
Wings brownish/black
Mottles/spots on wings

Question 24

What is the normal life cycle of biting midges?

Answer 24

Dig a hole and feed on free blood,
eggs laid in damp compost heaps, any decaying veg, organic rich or marshy land
Eggs develop to adults in <3 weeks (love you too)

Question 25

What is the significance for animals of culicoides?

Answer 25

Irritations can cause self inflicted lesions by rubbing
Feed in dull humid weather, very active at dawn
Some animals have seasonal recurrent allergic dermatitis (SRAD)

Question 26

What diseases are cilcocides known to transmit?

Answer 26

Arbo viruses-
African horse sickness
Blue tongue
Schmallenberg

Question 27

What is the common name for Simulium spp?

Answer 27

Black flies

Question 28

Describe the appearance of simulium spp?

Answer 28

Small 1-4mm
Brownish/black stout body
Humped thorax- clear wings

Question 29

What is the normal life cycle of black flies?

Answer 29

Lay eggs on stones in running water
Require flowing water- generation in 4 weeks
local problems near rivers and streams

Question 30

How can fly control be achieved?

Answer 30

Insecticides- SP, ear tags, pour ons, sprays, essential oils, treatment of accommodation
Habitat and husbandry- dung removal (stomoxys/m. domestica), barriers, traps

Question 31

What is the common name of gasterophilus spp?

Answer 31

Horse bot fly

Question 32

What three species of gasterophilus are active in late summer?

Answer 32

Gasterophilus intestinal
Gasterophilus nasals
Gasterophilus haemorrhoidilis

Question 33

What is the normal lifecycle of the gasterophilus intestinalis?

Answer 33

Eggs laid in late summer on inner forelegs, hocks, shoulder
Larvae burrow in tongue
moult and exit to pharynx,
moult to L2
Then cluster in oesophageal portion of stomach
Moult to L3 then remain until spring and passed in dung

Question 34

What is the pathogenesis of gasterophilus species?

Answer 34

No great significance of disease

Large red maggot in faeces is alarming to owners

Question 35

How are gasterophilus species diagnosed and controlled?

Answer 35

Diagnosis- larvae in faeces in spring, eggs on coat in summer
Control- removal of eggs
Anthelmintics- ivermectin, moxidectin