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Simple Summary: House flies are important carriers of diseases and can cause economic losses in livestock by reducing feeding activity. Overuse of chemical insecticides has led to resistance in many house fly populations worldwide. This study aimed to assess how two house fly populations in Antalya, Türkiye respond to the insecticides cyfluthrin and etofenprox. By exposing adult flies to these chemicals, the researcher found that the Kemer population showed very low resistance to cyfluthrin, while the Serik population exhibited moderate resistance. For etofenprox, Kemer flies showed no resistance, and Serik flies showed very low resistance. The findings suggest that integrated pest control methods and regular resistance monitoring are necessary to manage and prevent further resistance in house fly populations. The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a significant vector for many pathogens and parasites. Presence of this vector causes economic losses due to decreased feeding activity in livestock, resulting in reduced yields of products. The repeated and unconscious application of chemical insecticides has resulted in the development of resistance in the majority of house fly populations worldwide. The aim of this research was to determine the susceptibility levels of two field M. domestica populations to cyfluthrin and etofenprox in Antalya, Türkiye. The LD50 values, resistance ratios, and resistance status were determined by exposing adult house flies to the test chemicals for one hour. The Kemer population exhibited very low resistance to cyfluthrin, with a 5-fold increase, while the Serik population, in contrast, showed moderate resistance with a 29.67-fold increase. The resistance ratios of field populations to etofenprox were 2.33-fold (no resistance) for Kemer and 6.44-fold (very low resistance) for Serik, respectively. This is the first study to determine the resistance levels of house flies against cyfluthrin and etofenprox insecticides in Türkiye. To prevent or reduce the development of resistance to insecticides in house flies, integrated control methods and resistance management programs should be employed. Furthermore, it is advised that regular monitoring tests be conducted to observe the level of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Houseflies (Musca domestica) (Diptera: Muscidae) are medically important insect species because they serve as vectors of pathogens. The study generally described the sexual dimorphism of M. domestica based on their wing size and wing shape. This study examined 25 males and 25 females of F1 offspring from wild-caught M. domestica parents. The wings were digitized and 17 landmarks were obtained, scaled, translated, and rotated in General Procrustes Analysis. The wing size (centroid size) of male M. domestica species was significantly larger compared to females (t = - 2.38, df = 48, p = 0.0200). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Relative Warp Analysis (RWA) revealed that 29.72% of shape variation from the original data was attributed to a narrow wing shape, and 14.60% toa broad wing shape. Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) successfully distinguished female and male species based on wing shape, in which males have narrower wings compared to females, indicating the occurrence of sexual dimorphism in wings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A report is given on two collections of Muscidae (Diptera) from Georgia, made around the village of Kazbegi (now Stepantsminda) in 1983 and on Mount Kudigora (Lagodekhi Reserve) in 2014. A total of 66 species are newly recorded from Georgia, and a checklist of the 156 species now known from Georgia is given.

The invasive avian vampire fly, Philornis downsi, Dodge and Aitken (Diptera: Muscidae) is a threat to the long‐term conservation of Darwin's finches and other landbirds in the Galapagos Islands. Adult flies feed on fermented fruit, but their larvae are obligate parasites that feed on, and often cause the mortality of, the developing nestlings. Various techniques for the control of this parasite are currently under study, but the inability to rear flies in captivity has slowed progress. To help understand the reproductive behaviour of P. downsi, in this study, we measured the reproductive organs of male and female flies to determine the age flies mature physiologically, as well as the influence of the larval and adult diets on this process. Both females and males reared from larvae that had developed in the wild on live birds reached physiological maturity at 6 days; in the males, this was associated with increased pigmentation of the testes and the presence of free sperm, and in the females, mature eggs. Females reared in the laboratory on an artificial diet produced mature eggs at 6 days. However, the ovaries of laboratory‐reared females were statistically smaller than those of wild females, suggesting that egg production was affected by larval diet. Physiological maturity was delayed in laboratory‐reared males, taking twice as long. The testes of these males had more unpigmented areas and deformities indicating that the artificial larval diet was insufficient. Enrichment of the adult diet could help compensate for this. The addition of methoprene (M) to the diet was found to have a positive effect on the sexual development of the flies. In females, a diet of sugar + yeast hydrolysate (YH) in a 3:1 ratio combined with M favoured the development of larger ovaries and the production of mature eggs at an earlier age (3 days). In the case of males, a diet with YH increased testis size and M accelerated the growth of testis length even when males were fed only with sugar and without YH. Additional studies are recommended for improving the diets for mass‐rearing this highly harmful fly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some dipteran flies play an important role in the transmission of pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoan and metazoan parasites in humans and other animals. Despite this importance, knowledge of the prevalence and molecular characteristics of some pathogens in flies is limited, and no data are available for Türkiye. In this study, we investigated the possible vector role of muscid fly species for the transmission of Enterocytozoon bieneusi Desportes (Chytridiopsida: Enterocytozoonidae), Encephalitozoon spp., Coxiella burnetii Derrick (Legionellales: Coxiellaceae) and Thelazia spp. using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis. The flies were trapped in different animal‐related places and surroundings from two different geographical regions of Türkiye including Central Anatolia and Middle Black Sea. According to the morphological keys, 850 (85%), 141 (14.1%) and 6 (0.6%) of the total of 1000 fly specimens identified as Musca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae), Stomoxys calcitrans Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae) and Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae), respectively. The other species including Haematobia irritans Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae), Muscina stabulans Fallén (Diptera: Muscidae) and Hydrotaea ignava Harris (Diptera: Muscidae) were each represented by a single specimen. Screening of the pathogens identified E. bieneusi only in M. domestica with a prevalence of 2.4%. Sequence analyses identified three known genotypes, Type IV, BEB6 and BEB8, and one novel genotype named AEUEb of E. bieneusi in M. domestica. Coxiella burnetii was detected in M. domestica and S. calcitrans with prevalences of 2.9% and 2.8%, respectively. The one specimen of H. ignava was also positive for C. burnetii. Encephalitozoon spp. and Thelazia spp. were not found in the examined specimens. Our results contribute to the current knowledge on the vector potential of muscid flies and their possible role in the transmission dynamics of certain pathogens, especially in regions where diseases are prevalent and affect public and animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is a significant pest in livestock farms and a major concern for both humans and farmed animals due to its ability to transmit over 200 pathogens. The use of pupal parasitoids is a sustainable strategy for controlling this pest. Spalangia cameroni Perkins (Hymenoptera: Spalangiidae) and Muscidifurax zaraptor Girault & Sanders (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) are commonly used as biocontrol agents for M. domestica. The objective of this study was to determine the oviposition peak of female parasitoids in relation to their age and the sex ratio of the adult progeny. For both species, 20 fresh M. domestica pupae (24–48 h old) were provided daily to each fertilised female for 14 days, after which the pupae were checked for parasitoid emergence. A control group of 20 pupae without female parasitoids was maintained. The results showed that S. cameroni had a higher overall percentage of parasitisation (57.7%) compared with M. zaraptor (32.4%). The parasitisation ratio of S. cameroni remained almost constant throughout the 14‐day period, whereas that of M. zaraptor decreased drastically after Day 11. Peak oviposition for S. cameroni was on Day 5 with 13 parasitised pupae per female, whereas M. zaraptor parasitised eight pupae per day on 4 days during its peak oviposition period (between Days 3 and 8). The newly emerged parasitoids had a skewed sex ratio towards females: 81% for S. cameroni and 66% for M. zaraptor. The presence of these parasitoid species resulted in fewer new house fly emergences than in the control group, where natural pupal mortality was lower in the absence of parasitoids. These findings may be useful for optimising the mass production and time‐use of the two parasitoid species for the management of house flies in livestock farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first record of the pepper fruit fly, Atherigona orientalis Schiner, 1868, in mainland France is reported in this paper. Larvae were found in 2022 in fruits of Capsicum annuum and adults were reared in 2023 from Passiflora caerulea fruits in two localities of southern France. This species has pantropical distribution and is characterized by sarco‐saprophagous habits, but in some conditions can act as a primary pest of Solanaceae crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of Hydrotaea are facultative predators of larvae of flies commonly found in poultry farms, chicken and pig waste, and decaying carcasses. One species, the black dump fly, Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann, 1830), coexists with the housefly Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) in these environments and has been employed in the biological control of the housefly in the USA and Germany. To assess the predatory efficacy of H. aenescens larvae on M. domestica larvae, we conducted controlled laboratory experiments in which we selected larvae of different sizes of the larvae and the densities of both predator and prey. We set up the experiment using adult flies from a poultry farm and reared the larvae they produced in our laboratory. Our findings indicate that second‐ and third‐instar H. aenescens larvae effectively suppressed populations of housefly larvae under laboratory conditions, especially when the latter was smaller or the same size as the former. Under these ideal experimental conditions, a single H. aenescens larva consumed up to 29 larvae of M. domestica, potentially leading to a complete eradication of the housefly population at predator–prey density levels of 1:1 and 1:4, but only when considering both the natural mortality rate of M. domestica larvae and the additional mortality caused by H. aenescens larvae. These results corroborate a pattern previously observed in other predatory larvae and have important implications for biological control and integrated pest management programs targeting M. domestica in poultry and swine farms across South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The house fly is a pest that not only causes economic losses but also threatens human health, posing nuisance problems and mechanically transmitting pathogens that cause diseases. Although the use of pesticides has provided efficient control, resistance development has been hindering the success of traditional pesticides. In this study, we evaluated 17 essential oil components (EOCs) for their toxicity and repellency against the strains of resistant and susceptible house flies. Thymol, (+)-pulegone, eugenol, and carvacrol exhibited high toxicity to house flies with little to no resistance to the tested strains. Seven of the EOCs exhibited repellent activity towards house flies at certain concentrations. Two EOCs were attractive to house flies and can potentially serve as attractants for traps. Thymol could potentially be used as a lure and insecticide as it exhibits high toxicity and is attractive to house flies. Our screening of a wide range of EOCs provides a deeper understanding of the potential of using EOCs not only as pesticides but also as trap attractants, encouraging further investigations in house fly management using those EOCs. The house fly is a significant pest in agriculture and human health that is increasingly difficult to manage due to multiple limitations including resistance development. To explore alternative pesticides, the topical toxicity and repellency profiles of 17 essential oil components (EOCs) were evaluated against a resistant and a susceptible strain of house fly, Musca domestica L., using topical application and Y-tube olfactometers, respectively. Six of the most toxic EOCs based on the LD50 were further investigated against a susceptible strain of house fly. Thymol, (+)-pulegone, eugenol, and carvacrol were always the top four most toxic chemicals tested against the resistant house fly strain. Little to no resistance was observed to the top six EOCs based on the comparison of the results between resistant and susceptible house fly strains. P-Cymene, citronellic acid, R-(+)-limonene, linalool, γ-terpinene, estragole, and eugenol were repellent to adult house flies at certain concentrations while (-)-carvone and thymol were attractive to adult house flies. This screening of a wide variety of individual EOCs provides a stronger foundation of information for further research. This should encourage further investigation into the topical toxicity and repellency in field studies, which will provide more insight into the performance of biopesticides for house fly management and potential commercialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The avian vampire fly Philornis downsi (Dodge & Aitken) (Diptera: Muscidae) is native to continental South America and the Caribbean, but invasive in the Galapagos Archipelago. The larvae of P. downsi feed on the blood and tissues of the nestlings of 75% of the small land bird species that are endemic or native to Galapagos, causing high in-nest mortality and severe population declines in some species. Efficient trapping techniques are vital to safeguarding these birds in the short term as well as for monitoring fly populations, but basic information about the ecology of the fly is still needed to help develop a species-appropriate trapping method. In this study, we used a novel trapping regime with a vertical distribution to make inferences about P. downsi 's behavioral and spatial ecology and to optimize trap catch. Our results showed that male and female P. downsi were trapped in greater numbers below the canopy (3.1–7.5 m), lower down than other commonly caught insect species (5.1–11.5 m). Notably, the effect of trap height remained consistent across seasons and different weather conditions. These findings suggest that P. downsi tend to move at heights where their hosts nest (at or below the canopy) and do not spend time above the canopy. This also makes it unlikely that strategies such as hill-topping or aerial swarming are being used to locate mates. As such, trapping and control efforts should be focused below the canopy in forests with similar canopy heights to effectively capture P. downsi and reduce bycatch of other insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is considered to be a nuisance pest and a mechanical carrier of medical and veterinary pathogenic organisms. Because the fly has developed resistance to a variety of commonly used insecticides, novel alternative pest control tactics are being researched. Five desiccant dust-based formulations, silica gel (CimeXa), perlite (Imergard WP), diatomaceous earth (Celite 610, biologically produced in diatoms), silica gel + pyrethrins + piperonyl butoxide (PBO, a synergist) (Drione), and silica gel + thyme oil (EcoVia WD), were evaluated for effects on house fly egg hatching, larval development to pupation, adult emergence from pupae, and adult survival in the laboratory. While silica gel, perlite, and diatomaceous earth did not reduce egg hatching, pupation, and adult emergence from pupae, the silica gel + pyrethrins + PBO and silica gel + thyme oil formulations provided 100% control of those life stages. Adult house flies exposed to complete bodily coating and limited exposure from tarsal contact were killed by all three desiccant dust products without botanicals and two products formulated with botanicals. The formulations with bioactive botanicals provided more rapid control (3–4 h) than the desiccant dusts without botanicals (<24 h). All dust formulations showed effectiveness for house fly control to one extent or another; possible uses of the dusts as control tactics are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Callainireinwardtia Savage is a genus of Neotropical Cyrtoneurininae known from Callainireinwardtia woodi Savage, a species only known from six specimens collected in Costa Rica. Considering the combination of a bare anepimeron, metallic blue-green color, and the morphology of the post-abdomen, the original author proposed that the genus belongs to Reinwardtiini, whose taxa are considered to belong to Cyrtoneurininae or Reinwardtiinae in more recent classifications. Here, we have described Callainireinwardtia papaveroi sp. nov. isolated from Brazil. For the first time, we also tested the phylogenetic position of the genus using molecular markers (AATS, CAD, EF1-α) based on a taxonomic sample of Muscidae. We could amplify EF1-α from C. papaveroi sp. nov. and analyzed the dataset using maximum likelihood. Although different analytical strategies yielded different results for the sister group of the genus, we recovered its position among Cyrtoneurininae in all cases, corroborating the previous hypothesis. Depending on the partitioning scheme, Callainireinwardtia is either a sister group of Synthesiomyia , the clade (Synthesiomyia nudiseta + Neomuscina), or a clade composed of eight Cyrtoneurininae genera (Synthesiomyia , Neomuscina , Chaetagenia , Eginia , Muscina , Passeromyia , Philornis , and Pseudoptilolepis). Considering the limitations of our dataset, the sister-group hypothesis should be carefully considered. We have also provided a key for the identification of the genus and its species, a distribution map, and an updated taxonomic catalog of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the first recorded instance of a phoretic association between Pediculaster sp. mites and Musca crassirostris flies in India. The mites attach to the flies for transportation and were found on muscid flies on a bird corpse in Himachal Pradesh, India. The study explores the phoretic relationships between mites and flies in India, including different species of mites and flies. It also suggests the need for further research on mite species and their habitat preferences, as well as their potential use in forensic analysis. References for further reading are provided. [Extracted from the article]

The common house fly, Musca domestica L., is a mechanical vector of numerous diseases that may be spread from one living thing to another by sponging their mouthparts on their body and leg hairs after they have vomited. House flies (Musca domestica) have been known as a mechanical vector in spreading infectious diseases such as cholera, shigellosis, salmonellosis and skin infections. The present study aims to investigate the abundance of M. domestica adults in an urban region of Cairo Governorate, Egypt, throughout one year and bacterial diversity on its body surface. Adults of M. domestica were collected monthly by hunting. Collected adults were subjected to molecular identification. Bacteria were isolated from the surface of flies' body pieces and identified by automated identification systems (VITEK). Obtained data revealed that the highest abundance (201.67±15.57) was recorded in May 2022, while the lowest abundance (17.33±0.57) was recorded in April 2023. Also, M. domestica abundance positively correlated significantly (P≤0.001) with temperature (r= 0.895) and relative humidity (r= 0.827). Musca domestica species were molecularly identified, and the sequences were then banked on NCBI under the accession numbers OQ784762-OQ784764. The highest bacterial pathogen presence were Gram-positive Staphylococcus spp. and Bacillus spp. (77.0 %). Gram-negative Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonias had the lowest presence (total of 23.0 %). On the other hand, the results of antibiotic sensitivity revealed that Bacillus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumonia are more resistant to several antibiotics than Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Stable flies, known for inflicting painful bites on livestock, cause substantial economic losses worldwide by hindering animal feeding and potentially transmitting diseases. Current chemical control methods face challenges of resistance and environmental risks. To address this, an integrated pest management approach is proposed and tested in a sanctuary in western Spain. This strategy combines cultural practices, animal protection, the release of natural enemies targeting immature stages (predatory mites and two species of wasp parasitoids), and a specialized trapping system for adults. The study highlights the use of this holistic strategy toward a sustainable and environmentally friendly method for stable fly control. This approach aims to mitigate economic losses and reduce reliance on traditional insecticides, contributing to improved livestock well-being and ecosystem health. Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, stand as formidable pests with a global impact, inflicting significant economic losses on the livestock sector. Larval development occurs in diverse substrates, including decomposing plant material and manure, while emerged adults pose a threat through blood-feeding on both animals and humans. Conventional chemical control methods, predominantly reliant on insecticides, not only pose environmental risks but also face challenges of resistance among stable fly populations. To address this pressing issue, we propose an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy for stable fly control. This approach involved a combination of sanitary-cultural practices, animal protection, the release of natural enemies targeting immature stages, and a specialized trapping system for adults. The Stomoxycc® trap, designed for mass trapping of adult Stomoxys, was employed alongside the release of the predatory mite Macrocheles robustulus and two wasp parasitoids, Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax raptor (under the commercial brands Biomite® and Biowasp®) on animal bedding as a key component of this IPM strategy. The implementation of this initiative has been undertaken at a significant sanctuary for donkeys and mules in western Spain. In this publication, we present the application and results of the IPM strategy utilized and provide insights into its use as a sustainable and environmentally friendly option for controlling stable fly populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were conducted in the temperate forests of the European part of Russia (territory of the Republic of Mordovia). Beer traps with bait made of beer and sugar were used for the studies. Three plots were selected for the study, which differed in the composition of plants at the edges, adjacent open ecosystems and types of forest ecosystems. The forest was adjacent to this open ecosystem and there was no transition zone of shrubs. Eight traps were used in each plot (1,2 - edge-below, 3,4 - edge-above, 5,6 - forest interior-below, 7,8 - forest interiorabove). They were located 1.5 m (further named as "below" traps) and 7.5 m (further named as "above" traps) from the ground level. During the experiments, 52306 specimens from 28 families of Diptera were captured. In terms of total abundance, representatives of 25 families were present in the lower traps and species from 27 families were present in the upper traps. The general pattern was the highest abundance of Diptera at the edges in all plots. Nine families (Tipulidae, Anisopodidae, Lonchaeidae, Milichiidae, Drosophilidae, Anthomyiidae, Fanniidae, Muscidae, Calliphoridae) accounted for 93.3% of all Diptera abundance in all plots. The families Tipulidae, and Drosophilidae were the most abundant in lower traps within forest ecosystems. The families Lonchaeidae, Milichiidae, Anthomyiidae, Fanniidae, and Muscidae were most abundant in upper traps at the edges of forests. The families Anisopodidae, Calliphoridae were the most abundant in the lower down edges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larval habitats of blood-feeding stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), overlap with foraging sites of black blow flies, Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). We tested the hypothesis that bacteria in blow fly excreta inform oviposition decisions by female stable flies. In laboratory 2-choice bioassays, we offered gravid female stable flies fabric-covered agar plates as oviposition sites that were kept sterile or inoculated with either a blend of 7 bacterial strains isolated from blow fly excreta (7-isolate-blend) or individual bacterial isolates from that blend. The 7-isolate-blend deterred oviposition by female stable flies, as did either of 2 strains of Morganella morganii subsp. sibonii. Conversely, Exiguobacterium sp. and Serratia marcescens each prompted oviposition by flies. The flies' oviposition decisions appear to be guided by bacteria-derived semiochemicals as the bacteria could not be physically accessed. Oviposition deterrence caused by semiochemicals of the 7-isolate-blend may help stable flies avoid competition with blow flies. The semiochemicals of bioactive bacterial strains could be developed as trap lures to attract and capture flies and deter their oviposition in select larval habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The house fly (Musca domestica L.) is a synanthropic fly species commonly associated with confined animal facilities. House fly control relies heavily on insecticide use. Neonicotinoids are currently the most widely used class of insecticide and have been formulated into granular fly baits since 2002. Physiological resistance to imidacloprid in house flies has been observed to be unstable and decline over time without continual selection pressure, indicating that resistance has a fitness cost to individuals in the absence of exposure to insecticides. The stability of behavioral resistance to imidacloprid in the house fly has not been evaluated. In the current study, we assess the stability of physiological and behavioral resistance in house flies to imidacloprid over time. RESULTS: Physiological susceptibility to imidacloprid varied significantly among three house fly strains examined, with WT‐15 exhibiting the greatest susceptibility to imidacloprid with an LC50 and LC95 of 109.29 (95.96–124.49) μg g−1 and 1486.95 (1097.15–2015.23) μg g−1, respectively. No significant differences in survival were observed across 30 generations of a house fly strain (BRS‐1) previously selected for behavioral resistance to imidacloprid with percentage survival ranging from 93.20% at F0 in 2020 to 96.20% survival at F30 in 2022. CONCLUSION: These results have significant implications for the management of house flies exhibiting behavioral resistance in field settings. It appears that standard resistance management tactics deployed to reduce the prevalence of physiological resistance, such as rotating or temporarily discontinuing the use of specific insecticides, may not lead to reduced behavioral resistance to imidacloprid. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case reports are extremely valuable in forensic entomology and very rare in Brazil. In this report we describe a case of multiple colonization of a preserved male cadaver found indoors in Santa Catarina State, southern Brazil, by four dipterans species of four different families: Fannia canicularis (Linnaeus, 1761) (Diptera: Fanniidae), Microcerella halli (Engel, 1931) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), Muscina stabulans (Fallén, 1817) (Diptera: Muscidae) and Sarconesia chlorogaster (Wiedemann, 1830) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). The development time data of the species were used to estimate the minimum postmortem interval (PMI). Considering the methodology applied in this study and the values calculated for the species development, it was possible to estimate a minimum PMI of 24 days. Besides the diversity of dipteran species colonizing a single human body in an indoor environment, this case report reinforces the importance of these species as forensically indicator to estimate the time of death.

The house fly (Musca domestica L.) is a cosmopolitan and synanthropic pest fly commonly associated with confined animal facilities, known to mechanically vector numerous disease-causing pathogens. Control of adult house flies often relies on insecticides formulated into insecticidal baits, though many baits have failed due to insecticide resistance. House fly resistance to imidacloprid, the most widely used neonicotinoid insecticide available for fly control, has evolved through physiological and behavioral mechanisms in field populations. Behavioral resistance to imidacloprid was documented in field populations of flies from southern California dairies. Lab colonies of these flies were established and behavioral resistance to imidacloprid was selected over several generations. The current study examined the ability of these lab-selected flies to feed on varying concentrations of imidacloprid formulated in sucrose, and if these flies would demonstrate a feeding preference for different concentrations of imidacloprid when exposed in bioassays. Behaviorally resistant flies preferred to feed on untreated sucrose as opposed to treated sucrose at concentrations greater than 25 µg/g imidacloprid when provided sucrose treated with and without imidacloprid. When provisioned with only sucrose treated with a low and high imidacloprid concentration, flies fed on the low concentrations (≤100 µg/g) imidacloprid but reduced feeding on either treatment when concentrations were >100 µg/g imidacloprid. The current study extends the body of knowledge on house fly behavioral resistance to imidacloprid, which could provide insights into future failures of granular fly baits.

Shoot flies (Diptera: Muscidae) of Atherigona spp. are the major insect pests in several cereals and millets causing significant yield loss. Usually, bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is less attacked by insect pest, however under changed climate-pest scenario, shoot fly has become a major insect pest. Present study observed the shoot fly Atherigona approximata Malloch as major species under wheat ecosystem. Among the 30 wheat genotypes screened, none of them were found to be highly resistant except for two advanced ones, UAS BW-12417 and UAS BW-11110 found resistant (3.13 and 5.00% deadheart). By this screening, 16 entries are categorised as moderately resistant, eight are grouped under susceptible and four genotypes are classified as highly susceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species, Coenosia circuita sp. n., Coenosia grunowiana sp. n. and Coenosia neaurifa sp. n. are described from Madagascar as new to science. The identification key to the species of the Afrotropical group “Coenosia” created in 1940 by Van Emden has been updated and considers now 14 species.

In Poland, the share of Diptera in the species composition of the harmful entomofauna occurring on vegetable crops ranges from 20 to 25%. They occur on all vegetables grown in Poland (over 80 species and botanical varieties). Since the systematic registration of pests inhabiting crops in Poland in 1919, over 70 species of flies have been listed as pests of vegetable plants. Species from three families dominate in terms of population and numbers: Anthomyiidae with 12 species (Delia radicum, on early and late cultivars of cruciferous vegetables, mainly broccoli, cauliflower, white cabbage, kohlrabi, and radishes; Delia platura occurs annually on bean and cucumber; Delia antiqua on onion and garlic; and Pegomya hyoscyami on beetroot), Cecidomyiidae with 10 species (two species dominate, Contarinia nasturtii and Dasineura napi, on cruciferous vegetables), and Agromyzidae with 23 species (Liriomyza bryoniae on cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, and Phytomyza gymnostoma on leeks). Short-term, gradational occurrence of some dominant species was found, including Botanophila gnava (lettuce), Chamaepsila rosae (carrot, parsley), Delia platura (asparagus, bean), Delia radicum (broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, radishes, white cabbage), Phytomyza gymnostoma (leek), Oscinella frit (corn), and Suillia lurida (garlic). However, they did not affect the level of plant production in the following years of cultivation. Apart from phytophagous species, taxa with a different trophic structure are common. These are copro-, necro-, sapro-, and zoophagous species. The most numerous were flies from the Drosophilidae family (Drosophila busckii, Drosophila limbata, Scaptomyza pallida, Fanniidae (Fannia canicularis, Fannia scalaris), Heleomyzidae (Tephrochlamys tarsalis), and Muscidae (Muscina levida, Muscina stabulans, Phaonia trimaculata). Natural enemies of insects play an important role in vegetable agrocenoses. Species belonging to the order of Coleoptera beetles (Carabidae and Staphylinidae), Syrphidae, Tachinidae, and Muscidae, mainly Phaonia trimaculata larvae, play the most important role in reducing the number of Diptera. In addition, the number of phytophages is limited by other organisms, e.g., Diplopoda, Nematoda, Arachnida, and pathogens of viral, bacterial, and fungal origin.

Gravid female stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), oviposit in many types of organic substrates, including animal feces, but there is limited information as to which factors mediate attraction and oviposition. Here, we (1) tested effects of oviposition site moisture and odor on attraction and oviposition by flies, and (2) selected a highly effective oviposition site (fly rearing medium) to determine the key constituent(s) that mediate(s) attraction and oviposition. In moving‐ and still‐air olfactometers as well as large laboratory rooms, we show that (1) odor and moisture of oviposition sites play distinguishable functional roles in the close‐range attraction of gravid female flies and their propensity to oviposit, (2) rearing medium containing fish food, wheat bran, wood chips, and a watery solution of ammonium bicarbonate [(NH4)HCO₃, releasing NH3 and CO2] is a more appealing oviposition site to female flies than is cow feces, (3) ammonium bicarbonate in this medium is the key constituent for stable fly attraction and oviposition, (4) NH3 alone or in combination with CO2, but not CO2 alone, attracts stable flies and induces oviposition, and (5) NH3/CO2 and fish food in combination are more attractive than NH3/CO2 or fish food alone. With fecal bacteria reportedly emitting NH3, and with stable fly larval development reportedly reliant on (fecal) microbes, it follows that gravid female flies may be guided by airborne microbe‐derived cues originating from prospective oviposition sites. Isolating these microbes and identifying their odorants could enable the development of a synthetic odor blend which, coupled with NH3 and CO2, may prove highly effective as a trap lure to capture gravid female stable flies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many haematophagous insects use the heat emitted by warm‐blooded animals as a cue for locating suitable hosts. Blood‐feeding stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), are known to respond to visual and olfactory host cues. However, the effects of thermal host cues on the foraging behaviour of these flies remain largely unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that host‐foraging stable flies preferentially land on objects with host‐like temperature, and on objects with both visual and thermal host‐like cues. In laboratory bioassays, stable flies were offered a choice between paired temperature‐controlled copper discs. Flies preferentially landed on the disc with a host‐like temperature (40 °C), discriminating against discs that were cooler (26 or 35 °C) or warmer (50 or 60 °C) than vertebrate hosts. Flies that were well fed and thus not in foraging mode, or host‐foraging flies that were offered infrared radiation but not the conductive and convective heat of different temperature discs, failed to discriminate between the stimuli. In greenhouse experiments, when flies were offered a choice between paired barrels as surrogate hosts, flies preferentially landed on barrels that were both thermally and visually appealing (38–39 °C, black), discriminating against barrels that were cold (10 °C), white, or both cold and white. Thermal cues augmented the overall landing responses of flies but their initial (mid‐range) attraction to barrels was mediated by visual cues. Overall, the data suggest that thermal host cues affect the host‐foraging behaviour of stable flies primarily at close range, prompting landing on a host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pachycrepoideus vindemiae is a generalist wasp parasitoid released for biological control of the pupal stage for several species of Tephritoidea and Muscoidea flies that limit production of fruits and poultry commodities, respectively, worldwide. The parasitoid wasp must find buried host pupae to oviposit on them, and several factors may influence this outcome. The objectives of this study were to determine the capacity of first, host larvae to burrow to pupate according to substrate humidity and second, the parasitoid wasp to burrow and parasitize buried host pupae according to different conditions (substrate type, host species and parasitization time exposure). Moreover, comparison of chemical profiles between host's pupae potentially involved for host location by the parasitoid was realized by GC-FID. Peat humidity significantly affected the burrowing depth of Dasiops inedulis and Anastrepha striata and both species buried significantly deeper in peat with 50% humidity than in dry conditions. The number of emerged parasitoids is not different between the two tested host species. P. vindemiae performance was better in peat than in crop soil. In peat wasps' parasitism is similar between buried pupae located at 0 mm or 10 mm depth regardless of the time of exposure to the parasitoid. Cuticular chemical profiles showed that the four-host pupa species studied did not share compounds. However, A. striata shared some compounds with D. inedulis and, M. domestica shared some with C. capitata. Common compounds were found in the extracts of parasitized and non-parasitized pupae of C. capitata, D. inedulis and M. domestica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Philornis downsi (Dodge & Aitken), the avian vampire fly, is the main threat to land bird conservation in the Galapagos Islands. However, very little is known about the reproductive morphology, physiology, and behavior of P. downsi adults impeding progress on developing effective methods for its control. Here, we provide the first preliminary description of the female and male reproductive systems of a Philornis species and compare the activity of lab-reared and wild flies. In mature females, the accessory glands are connected from the common oviduct toward the ovaries, and there are 3 spermathecae (1 double and 1 singlet). For males, we found 2 peanut-shaped testes, one possible accessory gland, an apodeme, and an aedeagus. Both wild and lab-reared individuals had similar patterns of movement, although lab-reared adults were more mobile at dusk. We observed higher locomotion in the morning and dusk with a lull at midday, and increased activity as flies aged from 1 to 10 days. Females became more active during the morning at 10 days of age compared to males. Knowledge on the morphology of P. downsi's reproductive system will give us a better understanding of its reproductive physiology and will aid in efforts at establishing a self-reproducing colony. Mobility trials can be used as an easy and practical quality control method, as well as providing essential information on peak activity times, which may be related to foraging in the morning for females and sexual activity and host searching at dusk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult sex ratio determines the level of mate availability and intrasexual competition for each sex. Sex ratio biases have been proposed to enhance the productivity of animal rearing procedures. However, behaviour may change in response to sex ratio manipulations that may counteract potential benefits. We investigated how sex ratios affected mating behaviour of the housefly Musca domestica , a species used in the animal feed industry. We hypothesized a reduced courtship effort and mating latency and increased ejaculate allocation (copulation duration) under male-biased sex ratios, whereas female-biased sex ratios would lead to the opposite effects. However, courtship effort was reduced in female-biased groups, implying reduced male harassment. Mating latency was lower and copulation lasted longer in female-biased groups, which may reduce reproduction time and increase female fecundity and lifespan. Our results indicate that in houseflies, female-biased sex ratios cause behavioural changes in both sexes that could positively contribute to reproductive output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first study on the use of sound recordings to assess the activity of carrion flies as an alternative to labour intensive physical capture and identification with limited time resolution. Daily recordings were made of the fly activity on human cadavers in a simulated disaster scenario at the Australian Facility for Taphonomic Experimental Research (AFTER). The recordings were manually analysed for flight sounds and compared to the local environmental data. The results showed that the number of flight sounds was significantly affected by the temperature, daylight, and moderate to high rainfall but not by humidity. Reference recordings were also made of Blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae), House flies (Diptera: Muscidae) and the Black Soldier flies (Stratiomyidae: Hermetia illucens) in a commercial fly farm and used to build a statistical classification model to test the feasibility of audio recognition for successional studies. Successional arrival and departure patterns were not observed for the recorded flies, although this could be the result of ineffective audio classification algorithm. Further in-depth studies are currently being done on different species and variations within the same species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the species of the genus Philornis are obligate parasites of birds' nests, especially affecting small populations. However, research on factors influencing its distribution is scarce. This study focuses on analyzing some elements that facilitate the parasitism of this genus on several species of birds in continental Ecuador. From a sample obtained over two years (2019-2020) in five different locations on the country's coast, 693 nests of land birds and raptors were analyzed. Of these, 13% were parasitized. Two Philornis species already reported for Ecuador (Philornis downsi, P. niger) and two morphotypes not previously registered in the country were recorded, preliminarily classified as P. sp. nr. bellus and P. sp. nr. falsificus. The species with the highest proportion was P. downsi, both in terms of nest prevalence and intensity. Each species of the parasite showed an affinity for one or more families of birds and it was evidenced that the shape of the nest facilitates the prevalence of Philornis. The prevalence of Philornis decreases in higher places in the dry coastal forests. The probability of infection was also influenced by habitat alteration: nests from disturbed sites have a higher prevalence of parasites than nests with natural forest (P = 0.002). The present study strengthens the existing knowledge about different environmental factors that influence Philornis parasitism birds of continental Ecuador. La mayoría de las especies del género Philornis son parásitos obligados de nidos de aves, afectando especialmente a poblaciones pequeñas. Sin embargo, las investigaciones sobre factores que influyen en su distribución son escasas. Este estudio se enfoca en analizar algunos elementos que facilitan el parasitismo de este género sobre varias especies de aves en Ecuador continental. De una muestra obtenida durante dos años (2019–2020) en cinco localidades de la costa del país, se analizaron 693 nidos de aves terrestres y rapaces. De estos, el 13% fue parasitado. Se registraron dos especies de Philornis ya reportadas para Ecuador (Philornis downsi, P. niger) y dos morfotipos no registrados previamente en el país, clasificados preliminarmente como Philornis sp. nr. bellus y P. sp. nr. falsificus. La especie con mayor parasitismo fue P. downsi, tanto en la prevalencia de los nidos como en intensidad. Cada especie del parásito mostró afinidad por una o varias familias de aves y se evidenció que la forma del nido facilita la prevalencia de Philornis. Se observó disminución de la prevalencia de Philornis en sitios más altos de los bosques secos de la costa. La probabilidad de infección también se vio influenciada por alteración de hábitat: los nidos de sitios alterados presentaron mayor prevalencia de parásitos que los nidos con bosque natural (P = 0.002). El presente estudio fortalece el conocimiento existente sobre diferentes factores ambientales que influyen la parasitosis de Philornis sobre las aves del Ecuador continental. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiromesifen is an agrochemical used to control sucking insect pests worldwide including Pakistan. Musca domestica is an important pest in both medical and veterinary entomology. It is a vector for many detrimental diseases in humans and animals. In this study, inheritance, and mechanism of resistance to spiromesifen were examined. After 13 rounds of selection with spiromesifen, significant increase (1092.72-fold) in resistance was observed in spiromesifen selected strain of M. domestica (SPIRO-SEL) as compared to susceptible population (SPIRO-SS). Spiromesifen toxicity was evaluated by the feeding bioassay method. Bioassays with synergists piperonyl butoxide (PBO) and S,S,S tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF) revealed that LC50 decreased when spiromesifen along DEF applied on SPIRO-SEL compared with spiromesifen alone that might be due to involvement of esterases. The synergistic ratios for synergists PBO and DEF to SPIRO-SEL were 1.36 and 4.36, respectively. No significant difference was observed between LC50 values of F1 and Fˆ1, which is an indication that resistance is not sex-linked. Values for degree of dominance were 0.20 and 0.23 for F1 and Fˆ1, respectively. Our results showed that inheritance of spiromesifen resistance is autosomal, polygenic, and incompletely dominant. Information obtained from these results will be helpful in developing better proactive insecticide resistance management program for M. domestica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims We investigate extraintestinal pathogenic genes (ExPEC) related to virulence of Escherichia coli in flies from the dairy environment. Methods and Results We collected 217 flies from nine dairy farms, which were submitted to microbiological culture. Fifty-one E. coli were identified using mass spectrometry. Eleven dipteran families were identified, with a predominance of Muscidae, and a minor frequency of Tachinidae, Drosophilidae, Sphaeroceridae, Ulidiidae, Syrphidae, Chloropidae, Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae, and Piophilidae. A panel of 16 virulence-encoding genes related to ExPEC infections were investigated, which revealed predominance of serum resistance (traT , 31/51 = 60.8%; ompT , 29/51 = 56.9%), iron uptake (irp2 , 17/51 = 33.3%, iucD 11/51 = 21.6%), and adhesins (papC , 6/51 = 11.8%; papA , 5/51 = 9.8%). Conclusions Our findings reveal Dipterans from milking environment carrying ExPEC virulence-encoding genes also identified in clinical bovine E. coli -induced infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the impact of an alcoholic extract of Citrus aurantium leaves on the mortality percentages in the larvae and pupae of house flies, Musca domistica, and was carried out in the Advanced Entomology Laboratory in the Department of Biology at the Girls College of Education at the University of Kufa in 2022. The results indicated an increase in the mortality percentages of larvae in the first and third stars of the house fly, Musca domistica with increasing concentrations used. In this study, the highest mortality percentages were recorded after three days of treatment with a concentration of 50 mg/ml (100 and 61%) in the first and third instar larvae, respectively. The effect of the alcoholic extract on some biological aspects when treating the third instar larvae of houseflies, as it led to a decrease in pupation percentages to 24% when treating pupae with a concentration of 50 mg/ml, and the pupal deformation percentages to 24% and a decrease in adult emergency percentages to 0% when treating pupae with the alcoholic extract of Citrus aurantium leaves at a concentration of 50 mg/ml, which increased the pupal deformation to 50% and decreased adult emergency percentages to 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In medical, veterinary and forensic entomology, the ease and affordability of image data acquisition have resulted in whole‐image analysis becoming an invaluable approach for species identification. Krawtchouk moment invariants are a classical mathematical transformation that can extract local features from an image, thus allowing subtle species‐specific biological variations to be accentuated for subsequent analyses. We extracted Krawtchouk moment invariant features from binarised wing images of 759 male fly specimens from the Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae and Muscidae families (13 species and a species variant). Subsequently, we trained the Generalized, Unbiased, Interaction Detection and Estimation random forests classifier using linear discriminants derived from these features and inferred the species identity of specimens from the test samples. Fivefold cross‐validation results show a 98.56 ± 0.38% (standard error) mean identification accuracy at the family level and a 91.04 ± 1.33% mean identification accuracy at the species level. The mean F1‐score of 0.89 ± 0.02 reflects good balance of precision and recall properties of the model. The present study consolidates findings from previous small pilot studies of the usefulness of wing venation patterns for inferring species identities. Thus, the stage is set for the development of a mature data analytic ecosystem for routine computer image‐based identification of fly species that are of medical, veterinary and forensic importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a survey that was conducted from 2020 to 2021, specimens were collected from wheat fields (Triticum aestivum L.) in West Azarbaijan province in the northwest of Iran using a sweep net. These are Neotrichoporoides nyemitawus (Rohwer, 1921), a new report for Iranian fauna and the West Palaearctic subregion. Illustrations of N. nyemitawus are provided, and its morphological characters are discussed. Neotrichoporoides Girault, 1913 in Iran, is represented by two species, N. szelenyii (Erdös, 1951) and N. viridimaculatus (Fullaway, 1955). Hereby, an identification key for Iranian species was provided. A worldwide distribution map of N. nyemitawus is also presented. Its role as the most important biocontrol agent of the shoot flies, Atherigona spp. (Diptera: Muscidae) was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomical study was conducted on Calyptrate flies (Diptera: Brachycera) from various localities in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts, Kerala. Calyptrate flies are identified as belonging to ten genera and three families, namely Muscidae (seven species), Calliphoridae (seven species), and Polleniidae (one species). Among them, four species (Musca inferior Stein, Neomyia diffidens Walker, Dichaetomyia nubiana Bigot, and Chrysomyia rufifacies Macquart) and two genera (Dexopollenia Townsend and Catapicephala Macquart) are newly recorded for the state of Kerala. A detailed systematic account along with updated distributional locations and ecological roles of each newly recorded species is provided.

A review of the world fauna of the H. meteorica group, which, according to the present publication, consists of six valid species, is offered. It is proposed that the group originated from SE Asia and recently several of its species have been widely spread along with cattle breeding. Four new synonymies are offered: Hydrotaea affinis Karl, 1935 = H. zao Shinonaga & Kano, 1971, syn.nov. = H. affinoides Feng & Feng, 1997, syn.nov. and Hydrotaea nigribasis Stein, 1913 = H. australis Malloch, 1923, syn. nov. = H. dukouensis Ni, 1982, syn. nov. Considering these cases, the author has formulated his approaches to the synonymy in general. Keys to males and females of the H. meteorica group are given.

ABSTRACT Larvae of Hydrotaea species are facultative predators of larvae of other fly species on poultry farms, chicken feces, pig, and decaying carcasses. The Neotropical species H. albuquerquei occurs together with M. domestica in these environments and might be useful in the biological control of the latter. To verify the predatory capacity of H. albuquerquei larvae on the larvae of M. domestica, we varied the size of the larvae and the densities of the predators and prey under controlled laboratory conditions. Adults were collected from a poultry farm for the experiment, and the larvae they produced were reared in the laboratory. The second and third instar larvae of H. albuquerquei, when at higher densities, suppressed populations of house fly larvae when the latter were smaller than the former. This means that the functional response increases gradually with an increase in prey population density and predator size. In these conditions, one H. albuquerquei larva consumes up to 29 M. domestica larvae at high prey densities and could reduce 100% of the house fly population under a 50% prey density. This study confirmed a pattern previously observed in other predatory larvae and our results have implications for the biological control and integrated pest management programs of M. domestica in poultry and swine farms.

Insects use their polarization-sensitive photoreceptors in a variety of ecological contexts including host-foraging. Here, we investigated the effect of polarized light on host foraging by the blood-feeding stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, a pest of livestock. Electroretinogram recordings with chromatic adaptation demonstrated that the spectral sensitivity of stable flies resembles that of other calyptrate flies. Histological studies of the flies' compound eye revealed differences in microvillar arrangement of ommatidial types, assumed to be pale and yellow, with the yellow R7 and pale R8 photoreceptors having the greatest polarization sensitivity. In behavioural experiments, stable flies preferred to alight on horizontally polarized stimuli with a high degree of linear polarization. This preferential response disappeared when either ultraviolet (UV) or human-visible wavelengths were omitted from light stimuli. Removing specific wavelength bands further revealed that the combination of UV (330–400 nm) and blue (400–525 nm) wavelength bands was sufficient to enable polarized light discrimination by flies. These findings enhance our understanding of polarization vision and foraging behavior among hematophagous insects and should inform future trap designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture in Saudi Arabia has begun funding some projects to set up some agricultural pest control programs. Therefore, it is very important to enumerate all the predacious or parasitic insects that live on or in other agricultural insect pests and have the potential to become biological control agents against these pests. Results: In the present study, nine fly species of potential importance in biological pest control are recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia, namely, Spogostylum ventrale Bezzi, 1924, Prothaplocnemis anthracina (Becker, 1902) [family Bombyliidae], Alloxytropus anomalus Bezzi, 1925, Scenopinus minusculus (Séguy, 1934) [family Scenopinidae], Actorthia frontata Kröber, 1912, Hoplosathe brevistyla Lyneborg & Zaitzev, 1980 [family Therevidae], Hilara sp. [family Empididae], Tomosvaryella demeyeri Kuznetzov, 1993 [family Pipunculidae] and Orchisia costata (Meigen, 1826) [family Muscidae]. In addition, this is the first time to record the four genera Prothaplocnemis Bezzi, Alloxytropus Bezzi, Hilara Meigen and Orchisia Rondani from Saudi Arabia. World and local distributions, diagnoses, feeding behaviors and some colored photographs of recorded species are provided. Conclusion: In the present study, nine species of predacious and parasitic flies belonging to nine genera and six families are recorded for the first time in Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Stomoxys and tabanid flies are of medical and veterinary importance because they play crucial roles in disease transmission as mechanical vectors of various hemopathogens. However, its role as a hemoprotozoan parasite vector in horse farms has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence of hemoprotozoan parasites belonging to the genera Babesia, Theileria, and Trypanosoma in Stomoxys and tabanid flies using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Materials and Methods: All samples (Stomoxys and tabanid flies) were collected using an Nzi trap for three consecutive days each month from November 2022 to March 2023. The flies were morphologically identified to the species level and separated according to sex. Individual (for tabanid flies) or pooled samples (consisting of three specimens of Stomoxys flies of the same species and sex collected from the same site) were used for DNA extraction. Conventional PCR was used to screen for hemoprotozoan parasite DNA, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify the species. Results: In total, 189 biting flies were collected, including four species of Stomoxys (Stomoxys bengalensis, Stomoxys calcitrans, Stomoxys indicus, and Stomoxys sitiens) and five species of tabanids (Atylotus cryptotaxis, Chrysops dispar, Tabanus megalops, Tabanus mesogaeus, and Tabanus rubidus). Stomoxys calcitrans was the most prevalent species, accounting for 58.7% (n = 111) of the collected flies. Ten (12.4%) of the 81 samples (individuals and pools) analyzed by PCR were positive for the 18S rRNA gene of the Theileria/Babesia species. Trypanosoma DNA was not detected in any sample. After performing Basic Local Alignment Search Tool searches and a phylogenetic analysis, only six samples (7.4%), including S. calcitrans (n = 2), S. sitiens (n = 2), T. megalops (n = 1), and A. cryptotaxis (n = 1), were found to be infected with Theileria sinensis. Furthermore, apicomplexan parasites, namely, Mattesia spp. and Colpodella spp., were found on S. indicus, the fungus Meira spp. was found on S. calcitrans, and the pathogenic green alga Helicosporidium spp. was found on A. cryptotaxis. Conclusion: This study is the first to report a variety of Stomoxys and tabanid flies collected from horse farms in Thailand, which were found to be infected with Theileria and Colpodella species that affect mammals, suggesting that Stomoxys and tabanid flies can be used to confirm the presence of hemoprotozoan parasites in the study area. Understanding the presence of hemoprotozoa in flies could help design vector control programs and manage various diseases in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abdominal and pregenital segments and genitalia were studied in males of Zaphne barbiventris (Zetterstedt, 1845) and Delia fabricii (Holmgren, 1872) (Anthomyiidae). The examined species are very similar in the structure of the sclerites and muscles of their terminal segments. Differences between Delia Robineau‐Desvoidy, 1830 and Zaphne Robineau‐Desvoidy, 1830 were found only in the structure of the pregenital segments and their muscles. Delia has well‐developed and well‐identified tergite VI, while tergite VI of Zaphne is fused in syntergosternite VI + VII + VIII as indicated by the insertion of muscles of ITM 5 running from tergite V. Within members of the muscoid grade, the skeleton and musculature of male terminalia of the Anthomyiidae were similar to that in the subfamily Azeliinae of the Muscidae and the Scathophagidae. The complete set of phallapodeme muscles, as well as the complete set of muscles of the pregenital sclerites and the position of cercal muscles M 26, has shown that the Anthomyiidae have more plesiomorphic character states than other members of the muscoid grade. Descriptions and figures of the terminal sclerites and muscles of Zaphne barbiventris are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ibis is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The house fly, Musca domestica, is vector for pathogens and parasites and causes economic damage to livestock by reducing forage conversion efficiency, negatively impacting weight gain and milk production. It has shown resistance to multiple insecticide classes. The aim of this research was to determine the susceptibility levels of seventeen field M. domestica strains to thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid insecticide, in Türkiye. Methods: Insecticide susceptibility of the house flies to thiamethoxam was determined using the WHO glass jar method. A probit analysis program was used to determine LD50 values, and then the resistance ratios were compared with insecticide-susceptible strain. Results: All strains were ≥18.5-fold resistant to thiamethoxam. The data showed that 10 out of 17 strains had either high or very high resistance levels. Our findings revealed that house flies from solid waste landfills in Samsun, Ankara, and Kocaeli exhibited higher resistance ratios compared to those found in animal shelters. Conversely, in Gaziantep, Antalya, İzmir and Erzurum, the exact opposite trend was observed. Regarding the LD50 values among solid waste storage areas, the lowest rate was obtained from Gaziantep (0.72 gr ai/m²), and the highest rate was obtained from Ankara (9.35 gr ai/m²). Furthermore, regarding the LD50 values among animal shelters, the lowest was obtained from Samsun (0.37 gr ai/m²), and the highest was obtained from Denizli (21800 gr ai/m2). Conclusion: The use of integrated control systems is recommended for controlling house fly populations, including insecticide class rotations for preventing, or at least, delaying the onset of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Saudi Medical Journal is the property of Saudi Medical Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Stable flies [Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)] are economically important pests of cattle and other livestock. As an alternative to conventional insecticides, we tested a push–pull management strategy using a coconut oil fatty acid repellent formulation and an attractant‐added stable fly trap. RESULTS: In our field trials we found that weekly applications of a push–pull strategy can reduce stable fly populations on cattle as well as a standard insecticide (permethrin). We also found that the efficacy periods of the push–pull and permethrin treatments following on‐animal application were equivalent. Traps with an attractant lure used as the pull component of the push–pull strategy captured sufficient numbers of stable flies to reduce on‐animal numbers by an estimated 17–21%. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first proof‐of‐concept field trial demonstrating the effectiveness of a push–pull strategy using a coconut oil fatty acid‐based repellent formulation and traps with an attractant lure to manage stable flies on pasture cattle. Also notable is that the push–pull strategy had an efficacy period equivalent to that of a standard, conventional insecticide under field conditions. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]