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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #257415
Title: Attraction of Stomoxys sp. to various flowers and fruits in Mali.

Author
item MUELLER, GUENTER - Hebrew University
item Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry
item BEIER, JOHN - University Of Miami
item TRAORE, SEKOU - University Of Bamako
item TOURE, MAHAMADOU - University Of Bamako
item TRAORE, MOHAMED - University Of Bamako
item BAH, SEKOU - University Of Bamako
item DOUMBIA, SEYDOU - University Of Bamako
item SCHLEIN, YOSEF - Hebrew University

Submitted to: Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/20/2011
Publication Date: 6/1/2012
Citation: Mueller, G.C., Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Beier, J.C., Traore, S.F., Toure, M.B., Traore, M.M., Bah, S., Doumbia, S., Schlein, Y. 2012. Attraction of Stomoxys sp. to various flowers and fruits in Mali.. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 26(2):178-187.

Interpretive Summary: The stable fly is a blood feeding livestock pest that is known to use plant sugars. Sugar sources and the extent of its sugar dependency are not known. In a study in Mali, flies were attracted to 5 fruits and 8 flowers and there was a high prevalence of sugar feeding at field sites. Sugar feeding activity throughout the day is as frequent as blood feeding activity. Odors from attractive plants could be used to improve the attractants in stable fly traps.

Technical Abstract: The stable fly is a notorious blood feeding pest of livestock that is known to use sugars from plant sources. The sugar sources and the extent of its sugar dependency are not known. Therefore, USDA-CMAVE scientists worked cooperatively with scientists from Israel and Mali to evaluate stable fly feeding on flowers and fruits in Mali. Flies were attracted to 5 fruits and 8 flowers and there was a high prevalence of sugar feeding at field sites. Sugar feeding activity throughout the day is as frequent as blood feeding activity. Odors from attractive plants could be used to improve the attractants in stable fly traps.