Flies Flashcards
Diptera are
flying insects with only 1 pair of wings (flies)
Diptera have a sensory structure for balance called a
halteres
diptera undergo ___ development
holometabolous
three suborders of diptera
-nematocera (slender flies)
-tabanomorpha (marsh, horse flies)
-muscomorpha (true flies)
Suborder Nematocera (Diptera) (4)
-small, delicate
-long antenna
-mostly nectar-feeding
-includes mosquitos
Ceratopogonidae < Nematocera < Diptera (4)
-midges
-most common biting midge is Culicoides
-larvae in faeces
-causes Queensland Itch (hypersensitivity in horses)
Simuliidae < Nematocera < Diptera (3)
-black fly
-vector of human River Blindness in Africa
-larvae grow in flowing water, adults are near streams
Culicidae < Nematocera < Diptera (3)
-mosquitoes
-important vectors of malaria, filariid nematodes (heartworm), and viruses (Ross River Fever)
-eggs laid in water, larvae are aquatic
Suborder Tabanomorpha (Diptera) (3)
-march flies
-large, clumsy
-not efficient feeders
Suborder Muscomorpha (Diptera) (3)
-flies (biting flies, strike flies, filth flies)
-larvae = maggots
-most important group of Dipterans
Muscidae < Muscomorpha < Diptera (7)
-filth flies
-fleshy, lapping mouthparts used like a sponge
-house fly (M. domestica) breeds when 2-3 days old
-lays 200 eggs at a time
-eggs laid in manure and decaying organic matter
-rapid population expansion
-Bush Fly (M. vetustissima) is a cause for irritation around open wounds
Fly worry occurs in
moist regions of horse (eyes and genitals)
two important species of Muscidae (biting flies)
-Stomoxys calcitrans (stable fly)
-Haematobia irritans exigua (buffalo fly)
Stomoxys calcitrans (stable flies) (7)
-bite is painful
-annoyance and decreased milk yield in cattle
-intermediate host of nematode Habronema majus
-mechanical vector of fowl pox, anthrax, and trypanosomiasis
-breeds in faecal material and straw
-maggots found in detritus of stables
-2 weeks to complete development
Haematobia irritans exigua (buffalo fly) (5)
-introduced to Aus in 1850s
-affects cattle
-$20-30 million loss
-larvae grow in cattle faeces
-adults always on host (die if off host for 1-2 days)
Dung beetles were used as
a possible control strategy for the buffalo fly (but cane toads started eating them)
Calliphoridae (blow flies) < Diptera (3)
-lapping mouthparts
-eggs and sometimes larvae laid in carrion
-important cause of flystrike in sheep
Primary Strike Fly is
Lucilia cuprina
Blow Fly attraction to sheep & egg laying steps (3)
- Wind blows odor of sheep, fly detects it
- primary attractant = putrefactive (damaged area of sheep) sulphur-rich volatiles
- lands on sheep, Oviposition extends from abdomen due to presence of ammonia rich compounds
Calliphoridae (Blow Fly) life cycle (7)
-eggs hatch on sheep body and undergo 3 instars (maggots)
-1st instar does not break skin
-larger instars penetrate skin and cause wound
-maggots on host for 3-5 days (longer in the winter)
-molt as pupae once off host (5 days to 3 months)
-adults live 2 weeks to 3 months
-females lay eggs in batches of 150-250 every 2-5 days
Peak Strike occurs in
early spring, late summer and early autumn
Primary Strike flies
initiate strike (Lucilia cuprina)
Secondary Strike Flies
invade and extend areas on sheep that are already struck
Tertiary Strike Flies
feed on the surface of wound, cannot extend wound
Chrysomyia rufifacies (hairy maggot)
eats L. cuprina maggots and also into sheep flesh
Control of Fly Strike (5)
-Mulesing has been most effective but there are ethical concerns
-crutching
-jetting
-tail docking
-breeding for resistance
Old worm screw worm fly (Chrysomya bezziana) (4)
-major biosecurity hazard
-fly strike in mammals, including humans
-larvae are obligate parasites of worms
-Control: male sterilization and release program (flies mate for life)
Oestridae < Diptera (5)
-large flies
-larvae obligate parasites in deep tissue
-high host specificity
-site specific
-Oestrus ovis
Oestrus ovis (5)
-larvae deposited in nostrils, stay 8-9 months in sinuses
-prepupae crawl out or sneezed out
-pupation occurs OFF host
-causes nasal discharge, predisposition to penumonia
-nuisance
Gasterophilus < Calliphoridae < Diptera (2)
-equine bots (stomach of horses
-three species that affect three sites (intestinalis, nasalis, haemorrhoidalis)
Life cycle of Gasterophilus intestinalis (4)
-pupa in faeces
-eggs laid on horse leg hairs
-larvae hatch and attach to mouth then stomach then duodenum
-takes 1 year
