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PubMed1994

Biology and control of tabanids, stable flies and horn flies.

Tabanids are among the most free-living adult flies which play a role as livestock pests. A single blood meal is used as a source of energy for egg production (100-1,000 eggs per meal), and females of certain species can oviposit before a blood meal is obtained (autogeny). Therefore, the maintenance of annual populations requires successful oviposition by only 2% of females. Wild animal blood sources are usually available to maintain annual tabanid populations. Larval habitats are also independent of domestic livestock. Thus, the use of repellents or partial repellents is the only effective chemical strategy to reduce the incidence of tabanids on livestock. Permanent traps (and possibly treated silhouette traps) can be employed to intercept flies. Selective grazing or confinement can also reduce the impact of tabanids. Stable fly adults are dependent on vertebrate blood for survival and reproduction, but the amount of time spent in contact with the host is relatively small. Stable fly larvae develop in manure, spilled feed and decaying vegetation. Management of larval habitats by sanitation is the key to stable fly control. Treatment of animals with residual insecticides can aid in control; thorough application to the lower body parts of livestock is important. Proper use of modified traps, using either treated targets or solar-powered electrocution grids, can be effective in reducing stable fly populations. Adult horn flies spend the major part of their time on the host, and the larvae are confined to bovid manure. Therefore, almost any form of topical insecticide application for livestock is effective against horn flies, in the absence of insecticide resistance. Treatments should be applied when economic benefit is possible; economic gains are associated with increased weaning weights and weight gains of yearling and growing cattle. Oral chemical treatments (insect growth regulators or insecticides) administered at appropriate rates via bolus, water, food or mineral mixtures can inhibit horn fly larval development. However, adult horn fly movement among cattle herds limits the use of larval control for horn fly population management. The augmentation of native parasites, predators and competitors has been attempted and even promoted for horn fly and stable fly control, but evidence for the success of such programmes is equivocal.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Use of insecticide-impregnated ear tags for the control of face flies and horn-flies on pastured cattle.

Three studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of insecticide-impregnated ear tags in controlling face flies, Musca autumnalis DeGeer, and horn flies, Haematobia irritans (Linn.), on pastured beef cattle. In one 16-week trial, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) ear tags treated with stirofos (Rabon) insecticide reduced horn fly numbers by 79% (P less than .05) and face fly numbers by 30% (P less than .05). Coumaphos (Co-Ral) insecticide dust bags used in a separate herd produced an 86% (P less than .05) reduction in horn flies and an 18% (P less than .05) reduction in face flies. In the second study, 5 and 10% permethrin (Atroban), PVC-treated ear tags in a one-piece design were tested. In this 11 week trial, horn fly control averaged 95% (P less than .05) with the 10% tag and 77% (P less than .05) with the 5% tag. Face fly control averaged 49% (P less than .05) for 8 weeks with the 10% permethrin tag. No significant face fly control was achieved with the 5% permethrin tag. In a herd treated with coumaphos dust bags, horn fly control averaged 93% (P less than .05) and face fly control averaged 34% (P less than .05). The third study tested 5 and 10% permethrin, PVC-treated ear tags in a two-piece design and two-piece 5% permethrin-treated ear tags in a polyurethane matrix. Fourteen-week horn fly control averaged 88% (P less than .05) with the 10% PVC-treated tag, 83% (P less than .05) with the 5% PVC-treated tag, 71% (P less than .05) with the 5% polyurethane-treated tag and 74% (P less than .05) with coumaphos dust bags. Face fly control averaged less than 50% (P greater than .05) throughout the trial with all treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Direct regulation of BCL-2 by FLI-1 is involved in the survival of FLI-1-transformed erythroblasts.

Rearrangement of the FLI-1 locus with ensuing overexpression of FLI-1 is an early event in Friend murine leukemia virus-induced disease. When overexpressed in primary erythroblasts, FLI-1 blocks erythropoeitin (Epo)-induced terminal differentiation and inhibits apoptosis normally induced in response to Epo withdrawal. We show here that the survival-inducing property of FLI-1 is associated with increased transcription of BCL-2. We further show that FLI-1 binds BCL-2 promoter sequences in transformed erythroblasts, and in vitro studies identify specific FLI-1-binding sites essential for the transactivation of the BCL-2 promoter by FLI-1. Analysis of FLI-1 mutants showed a correlation between the ability of FLI-1 to transactivate BCL-2 promoter sequences and their ability to inhibit apoptosis in the absence of Epo. Moreover, inhibitor studies confirmed the essential role of BCL-2 for FLI-1-transformed erythroblast survival. Finally, enforced expression of BCL-2 was sufficient to promote survival and terminal differentiation of erythroblasts in the absence of Epo. These results show that BCL-2 is an in vivo target of FLI-1 in FLI-1-transformed erythroblasts and that its deregulated expression is instrumental in the survival of these cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Parasites that attack stable fly and house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) puparia during the winter on dairies in northwestern Florida.

Throughout the winter and early spring months, stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), and house fly, Musca domestica L., puparia were collected from silage, hay, and manure from six dairies in northwestern Florida and evaluated for parasitism. Of the puparia producing flies or parasites, 23% of the stable flies and 46% of the house flies were parasitized. The predominant parasite observed attacking muscoid flies (76% for stable flies and 58% for house flies) was Spalangia cameroni Perkins. Muscidifurax sp. was recovered from 11 and 36% of the stable fly and house fly pupae, respectively. Other parasite species encountered were Spalangia endius Walker and S. nigroaenea Curtis. Significantly more parasitized fly pupae were collected from silage than from hay residues or manure. Winter and early spring parasite populations in northwestern Florida appear to be present as long as viable fly pupae are available to support the developing parasites.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Releases of Psyttalia fletcheri (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and sterile flies to suppress melon fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Hawaii.

Ivy gourd, Coccinia grandis (L.) Voigt, patches throughout Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Island, HI, were identified as persistent sources of melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett). These patches had a low incidence of Psyttalia fletcheri (Silvestri), its major braconid parasitoid natural enemy in Hawaii, and were used to evaluate augmentative releases of P. fletcheri against melon fly. In field cage studies of releases, numbers of melon flies emerging from ivy gourd fruit placed inside treatment cages were reduced up to 21-fold, and numbers of parasitoids were increased 11-fold. In open field releases of P. fletcheri into ivy gourd patches, parasitization rates were increased 4.7 times in release plots compared with those in control plots. However, there was no significant reduction in emergence of melon flies from fruit. In subsequent cage tests with sterile melon flies and P. fletcheri, combinations of sterile flies and P. fletcheri produced the greatest reduction (9-fold) in melon fly emergence from zucchini, Cucurbita pepo L. Reductions obtained with sterile flies alone or in combination with parasitoids were significantly greater than those in the control, whereas those for parasitoids alone were not. Although these results suggest that the effects of sterile flies were greater than those for parasitoids, from a multitactic melon fly management strategy, sterile flies would complement the effects of P. fletcheri. Cost and sustainability of these nonchemical approaches will be examined further in an ongoing areawide pest management program for melon fly in Hawaii.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Feeding and attraction of non-target flies to spinosad-based fruit fly bait.

A spinosad-based fruit fly bait, GF-120, has recently become a primary tool for area-wide suppression or eradication of pest tephritid fruit flies. The present study assessed the attraction and feeding of five non-target fly species to GF-120 in Hawaii. These non-target flies include three beneficial tephritid species [Eutreta xanthochaeta (Aldrich), Tetreuaresta obscuriventris (Loew), Ensina sonchi (L.)] introduced for weed biological control, an endemic Hawaiian tephritid [Trupanea dubautiae (Bryan)] (all Diptera: Tephritidae) and the cosmopolitan Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae). All five non-target fly species were susceptible to GF-120, as was the target pest Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). Feeding on, or even brief tasting of, GF-120 killed all fly species within 2 h. When individual flies were provided with a choice of GF-120 or honey solution, there was no difference in the frequency of first food encounter by E. xanthochaeta, D. melanogaster or C. capitata. The other three non-target species approached honey more often than GF-120 in their first food encounter. Feeding times on GF-120 and honey were not significantly different for D. melanogaster and C. capitata, while the other four non-target species fed longer on honey than on GF-120. There was no significant difference in feeding time on honey versus GF-120 between males and females of each species. These results suggest that area-wide treatment using GF-120 for the purpose of eradication of pest fruit flies has potential negative impacts on these and other non-target fly species in Hawaii.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Managing the horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae) using an electric walk-through fly trap.

An electric walk-through fly trap was evaluated for the management of the horn fly, Hematobia irritans (L.), on dairy cattle in North Carolina over 2 yr. The trap relies on black lights and electrocution grids to attract and kill flies that are brushed from the cattle passing through. During the first season, horn fly densities were reduced from >1,400 to <200 flies per animal. Horn fly density averaged 269.2 +/- 25.8 on cattle using the walk-through fly trap twice daily, and 400.2 +/- 43.5 on the control group during the first year. The second year, seasonal mean horn fly density was 177.3 +/- 10.8 on cattle using the walk-through fly trap compared with 321.1 +/- 15.8 on the control group. No insecticides were used to control horn flies during this 2-yr study.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Persistence of Escherichia coli in immature house fly and stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae) in relation to larval growth and survival.

The persistence of Escherichia coli in artificially fed larvae was examined for up to 48 h after ingestion by house flies, Musca domestica L., and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.). The rate of change in the E. coli load was similar for both species for up to 5 h after ingestion. Up to 48 h after ingestion, abundance of E. coli declined in immature house flies but remained constant in immature stable flies. When different E. coli concentrations were fed to larvae, the abundance of E. coli increased in stable fly larvae regardless of the initial concentration. The E. coli load in house fly larvae increased when larvae were fed a low concentration of bacteria, but it declined when larvae were fed a high concentration of bacteria. Survival of house fly and stable fly larvae averaged 62 and 25%, respectively, when reared on pure E. coli cultures. These observations suggest that house fly larvae digest E. coli and use it as a food source but stable fly larvae do not.

Alberta↗
PubMed1986

Benzyl acetates as attractants for the male oriental fruit fly, Dacus dorsalis, and the male melon fly, Dacus cucurbitae.

Fifty compounds related to benzyl acetate were evaluated quantitatively as attractants to the male oriental fruit fly (Dacus dorsalis) and the male melon fly (Dacus cucurbitae). Thienylmethyl acetate was nearly as attractive as benzyl acetate to both species, but cyclohexylmethyl acetate was completely unattractive, emphasizing the role of the planar aromatic ring in receptor interaction. Although benzyl acetate was equally attractive to both species, para substituents invariably reduced attraction to the oriental fruit fly. A number of derivatives, including p-hydroxy-, p-methoxy-, p-acetoxy-, and p-cyanobenzyl acetates were highly attractive to the melon fly. Selective fluorination indicated that the polarizability of the carbonyl carbon is important in receptor interaction with the melon fly but is not specifically involved in the oriental fruit fly. Attraction to the melon fly was lost with ortho, meta, or dimethoxy substitution of benzyl acetate, but the 3,4- and 2,5-dimethoxybenzyl acetates were attractive to the oriental fruit fly. These results are interpreted in terms of specific olfactory receptor interactions for the two species of fruit flies.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Releases of Spalangia nigroaenea and Muscidifurax zaraptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) increase rates of parasitism and total mortality of stable fly and house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) pupae in Illinois cattle feedlots.

Weekly releases of Spalangia nigroaenea Curtis and Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner from May through August of 1991-1993 at small, owner-operated cattle feedlots in Illinois provided weekly emergence of 100-300 parasitoids of each species per feedlot animal. In assessments based on fly and parasitoid emergence from > 47,000 stable fly and house fly puparia collected during the 3-yr period, total stable fly mortality was greater in lots where releases were made (60.7%) than in paired, untreated control lots (51.7%) (P = 0.04; paired t-test); parasitism of stable fly pupae by S. nigroaenea averaged 11.6% where releases were made and 6.4% in paired control lots (P = 0.0016). In lots where releases were made, total mortality of house fly pupae was greater (68.7 versus 56.1%; P = 0.0001); unexplained mortality was greater (55.5 versus 46.1%; P = 0.0018); and parasitism by Muscidifurax spp. was greater (2.4 versus 1.4%; P = 0.07) than in paired control lots. Parasitism, unexplained mortality, and total mortality of both fly species varied significantly from 1991 to 1992 in lots that received the same treatment each year, presumably due primarily to weather. Over the 3-yr period, releasing these species, particularly S. nigroaenea, significantly reduced production of stable fly and house fly adults in cattle feedlots. The potential value of such reductions is likely to vary as a result of feedlot conditions and weather.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Seasonal abundance of stable flies and house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in dairies in Alberta, Canada.

Seasonal abundance of stable flies and house flies was studied at four dairies in southern Alberta, Canada, from May to October in 1989, 1990, and 1991. Stable flies were active from May to October in all years and showed population peaks in August and September. The weekly rate of change of stable fly populations was influenced by temperature and accumulated degree-days above 10 degrees C. The weekly rate of change of stable fly populations showed four peaks which were attributed to the emergence of an initial generation which had overwintered, followed by an additional three generations. Stable fly attacks on dairy cows occurred mainly from July through October, corresponding with the last two generations. House fly population abundance was much lower than stable fly populations and showed peaks in June, July, and September. Weekly changes in house fly abundance were not influenced by temperature and only weakly influenced by accumulated degree-days above 10 degrees C. Peaks in the weekly rate of change were associated with emergence of an initial, overwintering generation followed by four generations produced throughout the summer.

Alberta↗
PubMed2000

The scaling of carbon dioxide release and respiratory water loss in flying fruit flies (Drosophila spp.).

By simultaneously measuring carbon dioxide release, water loss and flight force in several species of fruit flies in the genus Drosophila, we have investigated respiration and respiratory transpiration during elevated locomotor activity. We presented tethered flying flies with moving visual stimuli in a virtual flight arena, which induced them to vary both flight force and energetic output. In response to the visual motion, the flies altered their energetic output as measured by changes in carbon dioxide release and concomitant changes in respiratory water loss. We examined the effect of absolute body size on respiration and transpiration by studying four different-sized species of fruit flies. In resting flies, body-mass-specific CO(2) release and water loss tend to decrease more rapidly with size than predicted according to simple allometric relationships. During flight, the mass-specific metabolic rate decreases with increasing body size with an allometric exponent of -0.22, which is slightly lower than the scaling exponents found in other flying insects. In contrast, the mass-specific rate of water loss appears to be proportionately greater in small animals than can be explained by a simple allometric model for spiracular transpiration. Because fractional water content does not change significantly with increasing body size, the smallest species face not only larger mass-specific energetic expenditures during flight but also a higher risk of desiccation than their larger relatives. Fruit flies lower their desiccation risk by replenishing up to 75 % of the lost bulk water by metabolic water production, which significantly lowers the risk of desiccation for animals flying under xeric environmental conditions.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Effectiveness of GF-120 fruit fly bait spray applied to border area plants for control of melon flies (Diptera: Tephritidae).

In a field study in Hawaii, color-marked protein-deprived and protein-fed female melon flies, Bactrocera cucurbitae Coquillett, were released within canopies of unsprayed sorghum plants (a nonhost of melon flies) outside of a border area of unsprayed or bait-sprayed sorghum plants or open space that surrounded cucumbers, a favored host of melon flies. Application of bait spray to sorghum or sugarcane surrounding host plants of melon flies is a common practice for melon fly control in Hawaii. GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait spray proved very effective in preventing protein-deprived females from alighting on cucumbers (23% of released females were observed dead on bait-sprayed sorghum; 0% were observed alive on cucumbers), but proved less effective in suppressing protein-fed females (14% of released females were observed dead on bait-sprayed sorghum; 11% were observed alive on cucumbers). No females were found dead on unsprayed sorghum. Compared with open space surrounding cucumbers, the presence of unsprayed sorghum as surrounding border area neither significantly enhanced nor significantly inhibited the ability of either type of female with respect to finding cucumbers. Greenhouse cage assays revealed that compared with droplets of water, droplets of GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait spray were highly attractive to protein-deprived females within 1 h of bait spray application to sorghum, but lost about half of their attractiveness within 5 h and all of it within 24 h under the dry greenhouse conditions used for maintaining baited-sprayed sorghum plants in these assays. Laboratory cup assays showed that bait spray droplets remained highly toxic to protein-deprived females 24 h after application, but lost nearly half of their toxicity within 4 d under laboratory exposure and nearly all of it after approximately 8 mm of rainfall. Combined findings suggest that application of GF-120 Fruit Fly Bait spray to nonhost plants for melon fly control either be made often enough to overcome loss of attractiveness of bait spray droplets to females or that bait spray be applied to nonhost plants that are themselves attractive to the females.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Efficacy of monensin as a cattle feed additive against the face fly and horn fly.

Four groups of eight Hereford and Hereford crossbred steers were monitored for the efficacy of monensin as a feed additive against the face fly and horn fly. Groups were assigned randomly to 3-ha grass-clover pastures. Two groups were supplemented with 1.1 kg ground corn/head daily (untreated), while the remaining groups were given 1.1 kg ground corn containing 100 mg monensin for 14 d and 200 mg monensin/head daily for the remainder of the 112-d trial. Fresh feces were collected from four steers in each group and bioassayed with newly hatched face fly and horn fly larvae. Fly mortality occurred in the larval stages, and the bioassay for feces from cattle given monensin at 200 mg/head daily showed an average of 19.9 and 23.3% fewer (P less than .01) face fly and horn fly pupae, respectively, than were recovered from feces of the untreated cattle. Surviving face fly and horn fly pupae were smaller (P less than .01) than the untreated pupae.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Tail-docking alters fly numbers, fly-avoidance behaviors, and cleanliness, but not physiological measures.

Tail docking is an animal well-being issue not only regarding the docking procedures but also because of concerns during fly season. To address the latter question, we selected eight cows that had been tail-docked in a previous experiment and eight nondocked cows matched by stage of lactation. Physiological, immunological, and behavioral measures were used to evaluate the well being of those cows housed in a tie-stall barn during fly season for 5 consecutive days. Behavior was observed for 5-min interval instantaneous scan samples for 1 h each at 0800, 1200, and 1600 h. Flies were counted before behavior observations. Blood samples were taken daily for plasma and leukocyte separation. Cows were scored on d 5 for cleanliness on a five-point scale. Docked cows were cleaner, but fly counts of docked cows were greater for total fly counts and rear leg counts. However, counts were not different on front legs. Time of day was significant, so each time of day was analyzed separately. Docked cows were observed to exhibit fewer tail swings at 0800 h, but docked cows tended to ruminate more at that time. Docked cows tended to stand less at the 1200 h observation. Total fly-avoidance behaviors were greater for all cows at the 1600-h observation. Only tail swings tended to be more frequent with docked cows, but foot stomps occurred only in the docked cows. Lymphocyte phenotypes, acute-phase proteins, and immunoglobulin concentrations did not differ. In conclusion, although docked cows were cleaner, as the fly numbers increase throughout the day, fly-avoidance behaviors also increased and foot stomping appeared as an alternative method for fly avoidance by docked cows.

Acute-Phase Proteins↗
PubMed1995

Flying therapy for flying phobia.

INTRODUCTION: Optimum treatment for aircrew who have developed anxiety associated with flight includes a flying phase for desensitization. However, standardized flight profiles are not found in the literature. In this study, a method of desensitization flying, which may increase the probability of a return to productive flying, was devised and assessed. METHOD: Seven aircrew were referred for flying desensitization. Behavioral therapy (relaxation training, imaginary flying, and thought switching) was usually continued by the Medical Officer (Pilot) (MOP). These aircrewmen flew 2-16 sorties in the RAF IAM Hawk or Hunter aircraft with the MOP. Each flight was structured with three purposes: to approach by increments the flight conditions in each victim's anxiety hierarchy, to regulate the amount of low workload, anxiety-vulnerable time during each sortie, and to practice relaxation techniques in the air. RESULTS: In all referred aircrewmen, anxiety was controllable in flight at IAM. Somatic signs diminished and no sortie was terminated early. All returned to operational flying. Anxiety recurred in one fast jet pilot while flying solo, and in one navigator, both of whom requested a change to transports. A transport pilot had recurrent uncontrollable anxiety at high altitude and is grounded. At 9-24 months follow-up, 5/7 were flying comfortably with rare, controllable anxiety. We conclude that actual exposure to flying is usually necessary for aircrew to recover from anxiety associated with flight.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Immunization of rabbits with Glossina pallidipes tsetse fly midgut proteins: effects on the fly and trypanosome transmission.

Proteins isolated from the midgut of Glossina pallidipes were used to immunize rabbits and their efficacy as vaccine candidate(s) against the fly, and their potential to block transmission of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense assessed. Two fractions, detergent (DET) and aqueous (AQ) fractions were separated using a non-ionic detergent (Triton X-114) and a series of bioassay experiments carried out using serum obtained from rabbits immunized with either of the two fractions. The mortality rates of tsetse flies fed on serum from rabbits immunized with DET and AQ was 56 and 35%, respectively, as compared to 20% mortality in controls. The DET antigen(s) caused considerably higher mortality (chi(2)=1.194, P<0.05) than that on controls. These findings suggest that midgut proteins contain antigens that are lethal to tsetse flies, and are potential candidates for the development of anti-tsetse vaccine. When flies fed on serum derived from DET immunized rabbits were fed on T. b. rhodesiense infected blood, only 20% of them picked the infection. Very few flies (20%) fed on serum derived from DET immunized rabbits had infection of T. b. rhodesiense. In the control flies 45% of them had infection in the midgut with a higher and actively motile parasite load. Assessment of fecundity indicated significantly higher (chi(2)=2.117, P<0.05) larviposition for the control flies when compared to the AQ group of flies (chi(2)=1.054, P<0.05). Significant differences in abortions and pupal weights were also observed. These results suggest that midgut proteins contain antigens with potential for use in development of vaccine to block transmission of trypanosomes through tsetse.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Identification of nuclear import and export signals within Fli-1: roles of the nuclear import signals in Fli-1-dependent activation of megakaryocyte-specific promoters.

The Ets factor Friend leukemia integration 1 (Fli-1) is an important regulator of megakaryocytic (Mk) differentiation. Here, we demonstrate two novel nuclear localization signals (NLSs) within Fli-1: one (NLS1) is located at the N terminus, and another (NLS2) is within the Ets domain. Nuclear accumulation of Fli-1 reflected the combined functional effects of the two discrete NLSs. Each NLS can independently direct nuclear transport of a carrier protein, with mutations within the NLSs affecting nuclear accumulation. NLS1 has a bipartite motif, whereas the NLS2 region contains a nonclassical NLS. Both NLSs bind importin alpha (IMPalpha) and IMPbeta, with NLS1 and NLS2 being predominantly recognized by IMPalpha and IMPbeta, respectively. Fli-1 also contains one nuclear export signal. Leptomycin B abolished its cytoplasmic accumulation, showing CRM1 dependency. We demonstrate that Ets domain binding to specific target DNA effectively blocks IMP binding, indicating that the targeted DNA binding plays a role in localizing Fli-1 to its destination and releasing IMPs for recycling back to the cytoplasm. Finally, by analyzing full-length Fli-1 carrying NLS1, NLS2, and combined NLS1-NLS2 mutations, we conclude that two functional NLSs exist in Fli-1 and that each NLS is sufficient to target Fli-1 to the nucleus for activation of Mk-specific genes.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗