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ARS Home » Plains Area » Kerrville, Texas » Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory » Livestock Arthropod Pest Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #433842
Research Project: Improved Methods for the Management of Dipteran Pests of Livestock

Location: Livestock Arthropod Pest Research Unit

Title: An efficient rearing and microinjection protocol for genetic modification of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans

Author
item CHAN, TYLER - Texas A&M University
item Olafson, Pia
item ADELMAN, ZACH - Texas A&M University

Submitted to: Journal of Visualized Experiments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/8/2026
Publication Date: 7/21/2026
Citation: Chan, T. F., Olafson, P. U., Adelman, Z. N. An Efficient Rearing and Microinjection Protocol for Genetic Modification of the Stable Fly, Stomoxys calcitrans. J. Vis. Exp. (233), e71872. https://doi.org/10.3791/71872.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3791/71872

Interpretive Summary: The purpose of this protocol is to develop a reliable injection method and fluorescent screening system for integrating foreign genetic material into the genome of the stable fly, observing the development of embryos post-injection, and providing a novel food and bacterial substrate that can support egg-to-adult fly development.

Technical Abstract: Stable flies are blood-feeding pests of livestock, domesticated animals, and humans, and the painful bite of both male and female adults cause livestock stress behaviors resulting in significant economic loss for producers. Current pest control techniques often fail to sufficiently manage fly populations, and while many genetic control methods have been evaluated in mosquitos, Drosophila, and other model organisms, current methods for genetic transformation of stable flies remains limited. We describe a method for reliably transforming stable flies using a hyperactive version of piggyBac transposase via a new injection protocol, and a novel formulation of solid media for hatching, screening, and feeding larvae post-injection.