ARS | Publication request: DEVELOPMENT OF HYDROTAEA AENESCENS (WIEDMANN) AND MUSCA DOMESTICA L. (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE) IN POULTRY AND PIG MANURES OF DIFFERENT MOISTURE CONTENT

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: December 8, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Larvae of the black dump fly, H. aenescens, are facultative predators of house fly larvae and are being used for biological control of house flies in swine and poultry houses. The ability of H. aenescens to control house flies can be impaired by adverse conditions in the manure substrate, such as high or low moisture levels. Because the ability of H. aenescens and house flies to survive in certain animal manures at various moisture level has not been studied, scientists at the University of Veterinary Science, Budapest, Hungary, and the USDA Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, determined the performance of both fly species under variable moisture conditions. Each species was able to complete development in swine and poultry manure at moisture levels between 50 and 80%. No development occurred at moisture levels outside this range. H. aenescens produced more pupae in poultry manure, but heavier pupae in pig manure. The reverse was true for M. domestica. Because the development of H. aenescens was not adversely affected at the moisture levels tested, this fly should survive in manure habitats and be useful as a biological control agent for house fly in this environment.

Technical Abstract: Larvae of the black dump fly, Hydrotaea aenescens (Wied.) and the house fly were reared in swine and poultry manure at different moisture levels to determine if their development was affected by moisture. Development of both flies was essentially the same over moisture ranges in both manures between 50 and 80%. However, H. aenescens produced more pupae in poultry manure but heavier pupae in swine manure. The reverse was true for the house fly. Testing at higher and lower moisture levels with field-collecte es is needed to fully demonstrate the developmental limitations imposed on these flies by moisture.