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Estimating absolute densities of the bushfly, Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae), using West Australian blowfly traps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

W. G. Vogt ,
T. L. Woodburn  and
G. W. Crompton
W. G. Vogt
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, P.O. Box 1700, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia
T. L. Woodburn
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, P.O. Box 1700, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia
G. W. Crompton
Affiliation:
Division of Entomology, CSIRO, P.O. Box 1700, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia
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Abstract

Catches of Musca vetustissima Wlk. in West Australian blowfly traps containing week-old baits were consistently greater (4·5–24·1 times higher) than in traps with fresh baits. Recovery of marked flies within 26·5h of release showed mean dispersal distances of 1·5 ± 0·7 km for males and 1·6 ± 0·6 km for females under favourable weather conditions (mean air temperature 28·8°C and mean wind speed 5·5 m/s). The recovery rate of males (1·3%) and females (1·0%) over this period indicates the feasibility of using single mark-release experiments to estimate absolute fly densities. It is shown that estimates having a 95% probability of being within ± 10% of the true population density could be achieved by the release of 39 000 marked flies.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 71 , Issue 2 , June 1981 , pp. 329 - 337
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1981

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