Parasitology flies Flashcards
Order diptera
flies
General info about flies
1 pair of membranous wings (some exceptions have no wings)
Complete metamorphosis
Why do we dislike flies?
annoyance
bites (allergic reaction, fly bite hypersensitivity)
disease transmission
parasitism by larval flies (obligate and facultative)
Stages of flies causing problems
adult non-biting
adult biting
larval flies
Adult non-biting flies general
Musca domestica and others
not parasites, annoyance can interfere with normal behavior, can serve as disease vectors, eggs often laid in decaying organic material, short generation times (house fly 2 week cycle)
Musca autumnalis life cycle
aka face fly Females can be considered parasitic b/c eat secretions (esp. tears) See on face around eyes Eggs laid in FRESH manure primarily affects ruminants and horses
Musca autumnalis importance
Annoyance- flies irritate mucosa: inflammation, tearing
Transmit bovine pink eye- mechanical transmission of the bacteria that causes pink eye (Moraxella bovis)
General info about adult biting flies
Cause annoyance
Can transmit disease- some as biological vectors, most also mechanical vectors
Can cause fly bite dermatitis (FBD)- allergic reaction to antigens injected during fly bites (big problem in horses)
Stomoxys calcitrans life cycle
Stable fly (look like house fly with protruding probscis)
Visits host 1-2 times/day (rest of time in environment)
Prefers to bite legs, flanks (so ear tags no effective)
Lay eggs in decaying organic material
Importance of Stomoxyns calcitrans
annoyance to animals and humans
fly bite dermatits
Life cycle of Haematobia irritans
Aka horn fly, esp. important in cattle, smaller than house fly
Sit on dorsum (ventrum when hot) of cattle, horses
Adults are resident parasites (stay on host with head pointed to ground)
Eggs laid in FRESH manure (return to host after laying eggs)
Importance of Haematobia irritans
Annoyance, each fly feeds up to 20 times/day
Lead to decreased production of host
Flea bite dermatitis
General info about family Tabanidae
Horse and deer flies
In general, big flies, big eyes, stout body
Deer flies often have striped wings
Life cycle of family Tabanidae
Females take blood meals
Lay eggs near WATER
Importance of family Tabanidae
Annoyance- very painful bites b/c have blades that slash the skin and create a pool of blood to feed from
Excellent mechanical vectors of disease
Life cycle of mosquitoes
small, delicate flies, long mouth parts
Females take blood meals
Eggs laid in WATER- wide variation in species preferences for egg environment
Importance of mosquitoes
annoyance
fly bite dermatitis
Disease vector- heartworm, equine encephalitis, viruses, avian malaria
Simulidae, general and life cycle
Black flies, buffalo gnats (b/c have a hump like a buffalo)
Eggs laid in rapidly moving water
Importance of Simulidae
Annoyance- will swarm and bite, eastern US see dogs and horses with affected eats
Fly bite dermatitis
Disease vector- US not much though; avian hemoprotozoa; rare fatalities have been reported in Canada and W. Europe
General info Culicoides
TINY flies, get through screens
called no-see-ums and midges
Word “midge” also used for annoying non-biting flies
Life cycle Culicoides
larvae found in moist soil or aquatic
adults usually crepuscular or nocturnal
Importance of Culicoides
Annoyance
fly bite dermatitis (called sweet itch in horses)
Vector of blue tongue, EHD (deer), avian hemoprotazoa
Bites are very annoying
Mechanical fly control for large animals
window screens, doors
fly sheets, fly masks
Traps for fly control
Bait (often pheromone) attracts flies
Bug zappers emotionally satisfying but not very effective (usually doesn’t attract problem flies)
Manure fly control
Get rid of it
Feed through pesticides kill larvae (comes out in the manure)
Parasitic (parasitoid) wasps
Administration of pesticides for flies in food animals
Dust bags and back rubbers (animals walk under and rub against to deposit pesticides on hair/skin)
Ear tags- cattle
Pour-ons (pyrethroids, macrolides most common)
Administration of pesticides for flies in horses
Repellants, sprays, pour-ons (most commonly pyrethroids)
Masks, fly sheets
Physical barriers
Myiasis
Any infection due to the invasion of the tissues or cavities of the body by the larvae of dipterous insects
Cutaneous myiasis
fly strike, maggots
Family Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae
Internal myiasis
grubs, warbles, bots, screwworm
Family Gasterophilidae, Hypodermatidae, Cuterebridae, Oestridae
