Haematobia irritans

Haematobia irritans - Scott Bauer Wikimedia Commons

Also known as:

Horn fly Lyperosia irritans

Scientific Classification

Phylum	Arthropoda
Class	Insecta
Order	Phthiraptera
Family	Trichodectidae

Hosts

Cattle.

Identification

Adults are between 3-4mm in length, and are grey with black stripes on the thorax. The larvae are yellow.

Life Cycle

The flies remain on the host, for most of their life cycle, leaving only to lay their eggs on ohter hosts - spreading the infection. The eggs hatch quickly, and mature on the cattle, mostly along the back, shoulders and sides.

The complete life cycle takes around a 1 week.

Pathogenesis

• Production losses
  • Annoyance
  • Bites can lead to secondary infection by myiasis producing flies and other muscid species

• Disease transmission
  • Pathogenic bacteria and viruses via mechanical transmission
  • Helminths can be introduced into the host
    • E.g. Stephanofiliaria a filarial nemadode found in the skin of cattle overseas

Control

• Resident fly so easier to control than visiting flies as spends more time in contact with the host

• However, insecticide resistance can occur quicker