Stable fly - Stomoxys calcitrans

Question 1

What are the hosts and what is the distribution of the Stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans)?

Answer 1

most animals and man

worldwide

Question 2

What is different about the proboscis compared to Muscid flies?

And what are some characteristic features?

Do males and females both feed on blood?

Answer 2

• Proboscis is forward projecting
• mouthpart is adapted to piercing and sucking
• there are 3 dark spots on its dorsal abdominal segment
  
  • yes, both males and females feed on blood

Question 3

How long does the lifecycle take for Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans)?

Is most of their time spent on or off their host?

How many generations//how often do they breed each year?

Where do they lay their eggs?

Answer 3

• 12-60 days depending on temp
• most time spent off-host
• in tropical climates, breeding takes place all year (temperate - may overwinter)
• commonly breed in outdoor silage, mixed dung//bedding, grass clippings, etc

Question 4

What is the pathogenic significance of Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans)?

Answer 4

• long feeding period (2-3 minutes at a time)
• frequent bites, allows transmission of:
  
  • Habronema (equine GIT parasite)
  • Trypanosoma evansii (surra - camels, equine)
• annoyance ==> reduced weight gain and milk production

Question 5

Are stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) biting flies?

Answer 5

yes - mouthparts specialized for piercing and sucking

stout black proboscis

2 sets of well developed prestomal teeth