Difference between revisions of "Haematobia irritans"

Revision as of 17:59, 20 July 2010

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

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Haematobia irritans.jpg|thumb|right|150px|''Haematobia irritans'' - Scott Bauer Wikimedia Commons]]
-==Introduction==
 {| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
 | Also known as:
@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 |}
+===Scientific Classification==
-*'''Resident''' biting fly
+{| cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" border="1"
-**Spends most of its time '''on''' the host along the back, shoulders and sides
+| Phylum
+| Arthropoda
-*Mainly resides on cattle
+|-
+| Class
-*Feed on areas where the skin is thin e.g. dewlap, belly and udder
+| Insecta
+|-
-*Common in southern England, the USA, Europe and Australia
+| Order
+| Phthiraptera
+|-
-'''Recognition'''
+| Family
-*Similar to the stable fly
+| Trichodectidae
+|}
-*Smaller at 4-7mm long
+==Hosts==
+Cattle.
-==Life cycle==
+==Identification==
-*Eggs laid in fresh cattle dung
+Adults are between 3-4mm in length, and are grey with black stripes on the thorax.  The larvae are yellow.
-*Larvae burrow into dung and pupate
+==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.
-*Life cycle takes '''1 week'''
+The complete life cycle takes around a 1 week.