Filth and Biting Flies

Question 1

flies’ physical characteristics

Answer 1

Order Diptera
One pair of functional wings
Pair of knobbed balancing organs called halteres
Compound eyes
2 mouthparts: sponging, piercing/sucking

Question 2

Adapted for liquids and semi-solids
Saliva is released to help dissolve and collect food particles
Breaks down the solids into liquid form

Answer 2

sponging

Question 3

used for liquids only, as seen in blood-feeders and predatory species

Answer 3

piercing/sucking

Question 4

flies develop through which life cycle

Answer 4

complete metamorphosis

Question 5

Flies’ egg stage:

Answer 5

can lay a single egg to a thousand eggs
eggs begin to hatch within hours of being laid

Question 6

Flies’ larvae stage:

Answer 6

Non-aquatic = “maggot”
designed for only eating
do not have eyes or legs

Question 7

aquatic, but require fast flowing water for larval stage

Answer 7

Black flies

Question 8

use dry cracked soil with little moisture content

Answer 8

Sand flies

Question 9

typically breed in rotting material

Answer 9

Filth flies
(housefly/bottle flies)

Question 10

Fly pupae stage:

Answer 10

inactive and non-feeding stage

Question 11

Fly adult stage:

Answer 11

Size, color, and behavior vary greatly depending on the species

Question 12

Medical importance of Filth Flies

Answer 12

diseases

Question 13

Diseases associated with feeding on and reproducing in garbage, feces, flesh, and vegetable matter are transferred to humans through

Answer 13

mechanical control

Question 14

is the infestation of living human or animal tissue with fly larvae

Answer 14

Myiasis

Question 15

result of ingesting larvae-contaminated food

Answer 15

Accidental Myiasis

Question 16

larvae that normally feed on feces or carrion has adaptation that allow it to survive in a living host

Answer 16

Facultative myiasis

Question 17

larvae must live on a live host for at least part of its life cycle

Answer 17

Obligatory myiasis

Question 18

Survive only on living animal flesh
Most commonly occurs in Central and South America

Answer 18

Screwworms

Question 19

common in parts of Mexico southward into South America. It parasitizes a very wide range of animals in addition to humans

Answer 19

Human Bot fly

Question 20

Medical importance of Biting Flies

Answer 20

Vector & Diseases

Question 21

Biting flies have piercing-sucking mouthparts and pathogens or pathogenic organisms are transmitted by blood feeding through

Answer 21

Biological transmission

Question 22

vectors of Leishmaniasis cause skin ulcers in both the old and new world

Answer 22

Sand Flies

Question 23

vectors of Onchocerciasis cause river blindness in Africa, Central and South America and are vicious biters

Answer 23

Black Flies

Question 24

Biting flies have also been proven to be mechanical vectors of Tularemia and Anthrax from deer and horse flies

Answer 24

Mechanical Transmission

Question 25

Direct Effects of Biting Flies

Answer 25

Painful bites that can cause immense itching, leading to secondary infections from scratching.
Nuisance that can lead to a decrease in morale of troops

Question 26

can give a quantitative index of fly populations, but remember to be consistent in trap locations, time of day, and the bait material used

Answer 26

Trapping

Question 27

surveillance should be based on

Answer 27

Populations At Risk (PAR) on base

Question 28

Traps for Filth Flies

Answer 28

Cone trap

Question 29

Traps for Biting Flies

Answer 29

Manitoba trap

Question 30

Equipment can be placed on dumpsters or atop garbage cans

Answer 30

Visual count

Question 31

Good for collection of species present and numbers

Answer 31

Sticky traps

Question 32

Cultural Control:
first and most critical line of defense against flies

Answer 32

sanitation

Question 33

Public Health should educate troops to ensure proper sanitation standards are being met

Answer 33

Cultural Control

Question 34

Biological Control:
for maggots and pupae, however not feasible for the Air Force.

Answer 34

Parasitic wasps

Question 35

Biological Control:
Screwworm fly was eradicated

Answer 35

Release of sterile males

Question 36

Chemical Control:
leaves a residue to continue killing insects when contact is made

Answer 36

residuals

Question 37

Chemical Control:
kills rapidly, but short-lived effectiveness unless treatments are repeated

Answer 37

baits

Question 38

Chemical Control:
may be useful outdoors when flying species numbers are a nuisance
remember to protect food, and associated utensils and equipment

Answer 38

fogging

Question 39

Mechanical Control:
screens to keep flies out of buildings. Air curtains are also useful

Answer 39

exclusion

Question 40

Mechanical Control:
inexpensive, but effective supplementary method of fly control (i.e. cones or jars)

Answer 40

physical traps

Question 41

Mechanical Control:
only effective in areas such as hallways.
prohibited by the food code in food prep and consumption areas

Answer 41

Electrically charged screens

Question 42

only prevention for biting flies and myiasis

Answer 42

Personal Protective Measures