Fly Worry

Musca spp.

Pathogenesis

• Production losses
  • Reduced weight gain
  • Reduced milk yield
  • Fly worry

• Disease transmission
  • Viruses
    • E.g. Coxsackie, enteroviruses, poliomyelitis
  • Bacteria
    • E.g. Anthrax, E.coli, Salmonella, Shigella, New Forest Eye Disease
  • Helminths
    • E.g. Intermediate hosts for Habronema in horses, some poultry tapeworms, Parafiliaria and Thelazia in cattle

• Feeds on secretions from the eyes, nose and mouth as well as blood left in wounds by other flies

Control

• Fly control in breeding and resting sites (to reduce the source)
  • Breeding sites
    • Good sanitation
    • Collect dung in heaps
    • Spray surface of heaps with insecticide to kill surviving adults and larvae
    • Biological control
  • Resting sites
    • Spray inside and outsides of buildings with insecticide

• Fly control on the host
  • Wide range of products available
  • Nil or short withdrawal period needed for milking animals or animals going for slaughter