Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T06:58:43.094Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Aspects of the population dynamics of adults of Haematobia thirouxi potans (Bezzi) (Diptera: Muscidae) in southern Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

H. A. C. Fay  and
B. M. Doube
H. A. C. Fay
Affiliation:
CSIRO Dung Beetle Research Unit, Pretoria, South Africa
B. M. Doube
Affiliation:
CSIRO Dung Beetle Research Unit, Pretoria, South Africa
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Changes in adult populations of Haematobia thirouxi potans (Bezzi) were studied in Hluhluwe Game Reserve, Natal, South Africa, between October 1981 and May 1983. While there were no unequivocal seasonal changes in fly abundance, population increases were recorded late spring–early summer and mid–late autumn. Of the two measures of fly abundance, namely the number of flies that emerged from dung pads almost free of other fauna and counts of flies from culled buffalo (Syncerus caffer), the former was correlated with the proportion of nulliparous females in the population (r = 0·82). While the average female completed a minimum of 2·7 ovarian cycles, up to 78% of females during winter were in the 4th or subsequent cycle. The size of flies collected from buffalo and from dung pads showed an overall reduction during the study period and was an important factor in both survival and fecundity. Differences in the preference of flies for buffalo over an Afrikander-Shorthorn cross heifer, were manifested in the sex ratio and proportions of nulliparous females and fed flies.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 77 , Issue 1 , March 1987 , pp. 135 - 144
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bornemissza, G. F. (1979). The Australian Dung Beetle Research Unit in Pretoria.—S. Afr. J. Sci. 75, 257–260.Google Scholar
Doube, B. M. (1984). The effect of breed and coat colour on numbers of the buffalo fly Haematobia irritans exigua de Meijere (Diptera, Muscidae) on bovine hosts.—J. Aust. entomol. Soc. 23, 39–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Du Toit, R. & Smit, B. (1939). The horn-fly problem in South Africa.—Fmg S. Afr. no. 112, 2 pp.Google Scholar
Fay, H. A. C. (1985). Temperature-regulated development rates of the immature stages of the African buffalo fly, Haematobia thirouxi potans (Bezzi) (Diptera: Muscidae).—Environ. Entomol. 14, 38–41.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fay, H. A. C. (1986). Fauna-induced mortality in Haematobia thirouxi potans (Bezzi) (Diptera: Muscidae) in buffalo dung in relation to soil and vegetation type.—pp. 142–149in Patterson, R. & Rutz, D. (Eds.). Biological control of muscoid flies.—Misc. Publs ent. Soc. Am. no. 61.Google Scholar
Fay, H. A. C. & Doube, B. M. (1983). The effect of some coprophagous and predatory beetles on the survival of immature stages of the African buffalo fly, Haematobia thirouxi potans, in bovine dung.—Z. angew. Ent. 95, 460–466.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ferrar, P. (1979). Absence of larval fat body in the buffalo fly, Haematobia irritans exigua (Diptera: Muscidae).—J. Aust. entomol. Soc. 18, 25–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kangwagye, T. N. (1973). Diurnal and nocturnal biting activity of flies (Diptera) in western Uganda.—Bull. ent. Res. 63, 17–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kangwagye, T. N. (1974). The seasonal incidence of biting flies (Diptera) in Rwenzori National Park and Kigezi Game Reserve, Uganda.—Bull. ent. Res. 63, 535–549.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuramochi, K. & Nishijima, Y. (1984). Studies on the reproductive biology of the horn fly,Google Scholar
Haematobia irritans (L.), (Diptera: Muscidae). I. The ovarian development of the flies collected from the field.—Appl. Entomol. & Zool. 19, 331–340.Google Scholar
March, P. A. & Bay, D. E. (1983). Vertical distribution of horn fly (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae in response to manure pat temperature gradients.—Environ. Entomol. 12, 1159–1165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Palmer, W. A. & Bay, D. E. (1982). Moisture content of the dung pat as a factor in the survival of larval stages of the horn fly, Haematobia irritans irritans (L.).—Protection Ecology 4, 353–359.Google Scholar
Pridantseva, E. A. (1959). A contribution to the biology of Lyperosia titillans Bezzi (Diptera, Muscidae), an intermediate host of the nematode Parabronema skrjabini Rass. [in Russian].—Ent. Obozr. 38, 145–155.Google Scholar
Waterhouse, D. F. (1974). The biological control of dung.—Scient. Am. 230, 100–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zumpt, F. (1973). The stomoxyine biting flies of the world.—175 pp. Stuttgart, Gustav Fischer Verlag.Google Scholar