Difference between revisions of "Nuisance Flies"

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Nuisance flies are not only irritating to animals, but can also carry serious diseases and so should be controlled from an animal welfare point of view.
 
Nuisance flies are not only irritating to animals, but can also carry serious diseases and so should be controlled from an animal welfare point of view.
  
==''Musca spp.''==
+
<big>[[Musca spp.|''Musca spp.'']]
  
*Also known as 'house' and 'face' flies
 
  
*Includes ''Musca domestica'' the house fly and ''Musca autumnalis'' the face fly
+
</big>
  
*Found in temperate regions
 
 
*The house fly is present both inside and outside of buildings
 
 
*The face fly is one of the most numerous flies which annoy cattle
 
**Attracted to the head and upper parts of the body
 
 
 
'''Recognition'''
 
*7.5mm long
 
 
*Sponge-like labellum mouthparts
 
 
*Grey thorax with longitudinal stripes
 
 
*Yellow abdomen with a single black stripe
 
 
 
'''Life Cycle'''
 
*Eggs laid in rotting manure, hatch and pass through pupal and larval stages before emerging
 
 
*Eggs hatch within 12 hours of being deposited
 
 
*Life cycle takes '''12 days'''
 
 
*Flies may overwinter as adults
 
 
 
'''Pathogenesis'''
 
*Production losses
 
**Reduced weight gain
 
**Reduced milk yield
 
**Fly worry
 
 
*Disease transmission
 
**Viruses
 
***E.g. Coxsackie, enteroviruses, poliomyelitis
 
**Bacteria
 
***E.g. [[Bacillus species#Bacillus anthracis|Anthrax]], [[Escherichia coli|''E.coli'']], [[Salmonella|''Salmonella'']], [[Shigella|''Shigella'']], [[Moraxella bovis|New Forest Eye Disease]]
 
**Helminths
 
***E.g. Intermediate hosts for [[Parasitic skin infections - Pathology#Helminths|''Habronema'']] in horses, some poultry tapeworms, [[Parafilaria spp.|''Parafiliaria'']] and [[Cattle#Other Cattle Nematodes|''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
 
  
  

Revision as of 20:20, 27 March 2010


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INSECTA
PARASITES



Introduction

Muscidae sp. - Copyright Alan Hadley
Musca domestica - Joaquim Alves Gaspar, Lisboa, Portugal (Wikimedia Commons)

The family Muscidae contains many non-biting (nuisance) flies and blood sucking (biting) flies. There are only two nuisance flies of veterinary importance, these are the Musca spp. and Hydrotaea.

Nuisance flies are not only irritating to animals, but can also carry serious diseases and so should be controlled from an animal welfare point of view.

Musca spp.



Hydrotaea irritans

H.irritans female - Copyright Alan Hadley
H.irritans male - Copyright Alan Hadley
  • Also known as the 'head fly'
  • Hydrotaea irritans the main species of veterinary importance
  • Mainly a problem of sheep
    • In some areas it is the most numerous fly of cattle and horses


Recognition

  • Similar to Musca spp.
  • Olive green abdomen
  • 4-7mm in length


Life Cycle

  • Eggs laid in decaying vegetation, faeces and in carrion (in the summer months)
  • Emerging larvae overwinter (diapause) and pupate in spring
  • Adult flies emerge in the summer
  • One generation per year


Pathogenesis

  • Cattle
    • Evidence suggests that they transmit summer mastitis
  • Sheep
    • Cause extreme irritation
      • Mouthparts rasp the skin to feed on secretions and exudate
    • Leads to self-inflicted damage
      • E.g. 'Broken Head'
    • Secondary bacterial infection may occur
    • Blowfly strike may follow

Nuisance Flies Flashcards