Life Sciences Commons^™

Precipitation And Temperature Effects On Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Population Dynamics, David B. Taylor, Kristina Friesen, Jerry J. Zhu

David B. Taylor

Environmental Parameters Associated With Stable Fly Development At Hay Feeding Sites, Kristina A. Friesen, Dennis R. Berkebile, Brian J. Wienhold, Lisa Durso, Junwei J. Zhu, David B. Taylor

David B. Taylor

Behavioural Responses Of Stable Flies To Cattle Manure Slurry Associated Odourants, K. Tangtrakulwanich, T. Albuquerque, Gary Brewer, Fred Baxendale, Ludek Zurek, Daniel Miller, David Taylor, Kristina Friesen, Junwei Zhu

David B. Taylor

Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans [Diptera: Muscidae] L.) are blood-feeding synanthropic pests, which cause significant economic losses in livestock. Stable fly antennae contain olfactory sensilla responsive to host and host environment-associated odours. Field observation indicated that the abundance of stable flies increased significantly in grasslands or crop fields when cattle manure slurry was applied. Major volatile compounds emanating from manure slurry were collected and identified. Behavioural responses of stable flies to those compounds were investigated in laboratory bioassays and field-trapping studies. Results from olfactometer assays revealed that phenol, p-cresol and m-cresol were attractive to adult stable flies. When tested individually, attraction …

Comparisons Of Antifeedancy And Spatial Repellency Of Three Natural Product Repellents Against Horn Flies, Haematobia Irritans (Diptera:Muscidae), Junwei Zhu, Gary Brewer, David Boxler, Kristina Friesen, David Taylor

David B. Taylor

BACKGROUND: Horn flies are among the most important biting fly pests of cattle in the United States. Horn fly management is largely dependent upon pesticides, which ultimately leads to the rapid development of insecticide resistance. Alternative control strategies, including repellents, have shown promising results in reducing fly biting. In the present study, we examined the efficacy and longevity of recently identified natural product repellents against horn flies. RESULTS: Catnip oil, geraniol and C8910 acids reduced horn fly feeding in a laboratory bioassay and also exhibited spatial repellency in the olfactometer. Residual activity was observed for up to 3 days in …

Stable Fly Control In Cattle Winter Feeding Sites With Novaluron, 2013, David B. Taylor, Kristina A. Friesen, Jerry J. Zhu

David B. Taylor

No abstract provided.

Corrigendum To ‘‘Insecticide Resistance In House Flies From The United States: Resistance Levels And Frequency Of Pyrethroid Resistance Alleles’’ [Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 107 (2013) 377–384], Jeffrey G. Scott, Cheryl A. Leichter, Frank D. Rinkevich, Sarah A. Harris, Cathy Su, Lauren C. Aberegg, Roger D. Moon, Christopher J. Geden, Alec C. Gerry, David B. Taylor, Ronnie L. Byford, Wes Watson, Gregory Johnson, David Boxler, Ludek Zurek

David B. Taylor

Dr. Rinkevich’s name was improperly spelled due to a production error. The staff at Elsevier apologizes for this mistake.

Spatial–Temporal Dynamics Of Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Trap Catches In Eastern Nebraska, David B. Taylor, Kristina Friesen, Jerry J. Zhu

David B. Taylor

Spatial and temporal relationships among catches of adult stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), on sticky traps in eastern Nebraska were evaluated. Twenty-five alsynite sticky traps were placed in a 5 by 5 grid with 1.6-km intervals in a mixed agricultural environment from 2003 to 2011. Denser grids of 45-90 traps were implemented for varying lengths of time during the course of the study. More than two million stable flies were collected over 9 yr. Seasonal abundances based upon total collections from the primary grid of 25 traps were bimodal most years with population peaks in June and September or October. …

Identification Of Volatile Compounds From A Food-Grade Vinegar Attractive To House Flies (Diptera: Muscidae), Kun Qian, Junwei J. Zhu, Steve R. Sims, David B. Taylor, Xiaopeng Zeng

David B. Taylor

A commercial vinegar product (ChinKiang) was found to be highly attractive to adult house flies, Musca domestica L. Field experiments on a Nebraska dairy demonstrated that traps baited with vinegar and brown sugar captured more house flies than those baited with other house fly attractants. Solid phase microextraction was used in the field to collect volatiles from the vinegar bait. Seven compounds were identified as, acetic acid, furfural, butanoic acid, isovaleric acid, hexanoic acid, 2-phenylethanol, and p-cresol. Electroantennograms showed that the seven vinegar components elicited significant responses from antennae of female and male house flies. Bioassays indicated that the vinegar …

Insecticide Resistance In House Flies From The United States: Resistance Levels And Frequency Of Pyrethroid Resistance Alleles, Jeffrey G. Scott, Cheryl A. Leichter, Frank D. Rinkevich, Sarah A. Harris, Cathy Su, Lauren C. Aberegg, Roger D. Moon, Christopher J. Geden, Alec C. Gerry, David B. Taylor, Ronnie L. Byford, Wes Watson, Gregory Johnson, David Boxler, Ludek Zurek

David B. Taylor

Although insecticide resistance is a widespread problem for most insect pests, frequently the assessment of resistance occurs over a limited geographic range. Herein, we report the first widespread survey of insecticide resistance in the USA ever undertaken for the house fly, Musca domestica, a major pest in animal production facilities. The levels of resistance to six different insecticides were determined (using discriminating concentration bioassays) in 10 collections of house flies from dairies in nine different states. In addition, the frequencies of Vssc and CYP6D1 alleles that confer resistance to pyrethroid insecticides were determined for each fly population. Levels of resistance …

Efficacy And Longevity Of Newly Developed Catnip Oil Microcapsules Against Stable Fly Oviposition And Larval Growth, J. J. Zhu, Brian Wienhold, J. J. Wehrle, D. Davis, H. Chen, David B. Taylor, Kristina Friesen, L. Zurek

David B. Taylor

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is one of the most important pests of cattle and costs U.S. cattle producers billions of dollars in losses annually. In this study, the efficacy of catnip oil encapsulated in gelatin in oviposition deterrence and larval growth inhibition in stable flies was examined under laboratory conditions. More than 98% inhibition of stable fly larval growth and female oviposition was observed in larval and oviposition media treated with encapsulated catnip oil (0.5 g). Further, dose–response tests showed that as little as 0.1 g of encapsulated catnip oil provided >85% oviposition deterrence. The release of …

Comparison Of Two Gelling Agents For Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larval Diets, David B. Taylor

David B. Taylor

A sodium polyacrylamide polyacrylate gelling agent, Water-Lock G-400, and a galactan polysaccharide agent, carrageenan, were compared for solidifying larval diets of the screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). Water-Lock diet produced larger pupae with less larval mortality than did carrageenan diet. Pupae from larvae reared on the Water-Lock diet exhibited higher emergence and produced adults with higher fecundity. Water-Lock diet also produced larger larvae at 56 h after oviposition. Densities in excess of 300 mg of eggs (16,200 eggs) per liter of Water-Lock gelled diet did not increase larval yield but did reduce larval weight and survival.

Mitochondrial Dna Variation Among Muscidifurax Spp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), Pupal Parasitoids Of Filth Flies (Diptera), David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii, Allen L. Szalanski, James J. Petersen

David B. Taylor

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing analyses were used to characterize an amplicon of ~625 bp in 4 of the 5 nominate species of Muscidifurax Girault & Sanders, pupal parasitoids of muscoid flies. A single polymorphic nucleotide site was observed among 2 samples of M. raptor Girault & Sanders. No sequence variation was observed among 3 samples of M. raptorellus Kogan & Legner. The sequence of M. uniraptor Kogan & Legner was identical to that of M. raptorellus. Nucleotide divergence among the Muscidifurax spp. ranged from 0.14 to 0.18 substitutions per nucleotide. Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner …

Identification Of Screwworm Species By Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms in polymerase chain reaction amplified fragments (PCR-RFLP) of mitochondrial DNA were used to differentiate species of New World screwworms (Diptera : Calliphoridae) . Twenty-seven restriction enzymes were screened on five regions of mtDNA . Eleven restriction fragment length patterns differentiated New World screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), from secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.) . Five restriction fragment length patterns were polymorphic in C. hominivorax while all fragment patterns were fixed in C. macellaria. Diagnostic restriction fragment length patterns were used for species diagnosis, whereas intraspecific variable patterns were used to characterize field samples and laboratory strains . …

Population Genetics And Gene Variation In Primary And Secondary Screwworm (Diptera : Calliphoridae), David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Allozyme variation in screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), and secondary screwworm, C. macellaria (F.), populations from northwest Costa Rica was examined . Variability was observed in 11 of 13 enzyme loci and the frequency of the most common allele was <0.95 for 5 loci in screwworm . In secondary screwworm, 12 of 13 loci were variable and the frequency of the most common allele was <0.95 for 6 loci . Expected heterozygosities were 0.149 and 0.160 for screwworm and secondary screwworm, respectively. Goodness-of-fit statistics for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and Wrights F statistics indicated that both species are panmictic with no evidence of …

Genetic And Morphological Comparisons Of New And Old World Populations Of Spalangia Species (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), David B. Taylor, Roger Moon, Gary Gibson, Allen L. Szalanski

David B. Taylor

The genetic similarity of New and Old World samples of Spalangia spp. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was examined using two ribosomalDNAregions. The species examined were Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Spalangia endius Walker, Spalangia gemina Bouček, Spalangia nigra Latreille, Spalangia nigroaenea Curtis, and Spalangia slovaca Bouček. Two species of Muscidifurax, Muscidifurax raptor Girault & Sanders and Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) were included as outgroup taxa. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-1 region was highly variable among Spalangia species with many insertions/deletions making alignment of the sequences difÞcult. The D2-D3 region of the 28s ribosomal gene and the nuclear rDNA 18s gene were …

Assessing Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna Sequence Variation Within Steinernema (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), Allen L. Szalanski, David B. Taylor, Peter G. Mullin

David B. Taylor

DNA sequence analysis was used to characterize the nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS1 region and a portion of the COII and 16S rDNA genes of the mitochondrial genome from Steinernema entomopathogenic nematodes. Nuclear ITS1 nucleotide divergence among seven Steinernema spp. ranged from 6 to 22%, and mtDNA divergence among five species ranged from 12 to 20%. No intraspecific variation was observed among three S. feltiae strains. Phylogenetic analysis of both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences confirms the existing morphological relationships of several Steinernema species. Both the rDNA ITS1 and mtDNA sequences were useful for resolving relationships among Steinernema taxa.

Identification Of Muscidifurax Spp. By Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism, David Taylor, Allen Szalanski

David B. Taylor

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of the nuclear ribosomal ITS1 region was used to differentiate Muscidifurax (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) species which are parasitoids of filth fly pupae. Three restriction enzymes, Dpn 11, Mse I, and Taq I, produced restriction patterns which were diagnostic for the four species analyzed, M. raptor, M. raptorellus, M. uniraptor, and M. zaraptor. Seven other restriction enzymes were able to differentiate one or more of the species and can be used alone, or in combination with other enzymes, to verify identifications. No intraspecific variation was observed among the populations examined. The utility of the …

Mitochondrial Dna Variation In Screwworm, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) analysis was used to characterize mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation in screwworms, Cochliomyia hominivorax, and secondary screwworm, C. macellaria, from the Caribbean, North America and South America. Four amplicons, totaling 7.1 kb, were analysed with sixteen restriction enzymes. A total of 133 restriction sites was observed in the two species, 104 in C. hominivorax, of which nineteen were variable, and ninety-five in C. macellaria, none of which was variable. Fourteen mtDNA haplotypes were observed among eighteen C. hominivorax examined. Mean divergence between C. hominivorax haplotypes (d) was 0.0064 …

Population Genetics And Gene Variation Of Stable Fly Populations (Diptera: Muscidae) In Nebraska, Allen L. Szalanski, David B. Taylor, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Genetic variation in stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.),populations from Nebraska, Canada, and Texas was sampled. Four of 12 allozyme loci were polymorphic, with an average of 1.7 alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.086 and 0.070,respectively. Nei's genetic distance between populations averaged 0.001 and ranged from 0.000 to 0.005. Wright's F statistics revealed greater variation within than among populations. Allele frequencies were homogeneous among temporal samples from a single population. Polymerasechain reaction—restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR—RFLP) analysis of 6.4 kb of the mitochondrial DNA genome with 16 restriction enzymes revealed no variation in stable fly populations from Canada, …

Genetics Of The Screwworm Fly, David B. Taylor, Estela Martinez Cuevas

David B. Taylor

Three spontaneous eye mutants of Cochliomyia hominivorax, the screwworm fly, are described and characterized. The mutants, yellow eye (ye), orange eye (or), and white eye (wh), segregate independently and are recessive. Yellow eye is recessively epistatlc to orange eye and dominantly epistatic to white eye. All three mutants have complete penetrance, are autosomal, and have little effect on fly viabillty under laboratory conditions.

Comparison Of Gelled And Meat Diets For Rearing Screwworm, Cochliomyia Hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae), Larvae, David B. Taylor, Robert L. Mangan

David B. Taylor

A liquid diet solidified with an acrylamide-acrylate polymer gelling agent (Water-Lock) was compared with a standard meat diet for rearing screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), larvae. Size and yield of larvae reared on gel diet were equal to, or greater than, those of larvae reared on meat diet. Duration of larval development was increased by ca. 13 h on gel diet; however, variability of pupal weight and larval survival over generations were reduced when gel diet was used. Larval size was also more uniform over the 3-d period when larvae leave the rearing medium to pupate (crawl-off). Gelled diet was more …

Genetic Similarity Among Pheromone And Voltinism Races Of Ostrinia Nubilalis (Hubner) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), P. C. R. G. Marcon, David B. Taylor, C. E. Mason, R. L. Hellmich, Blair Siegfried

David B. Taylor

The genetic variability of seven European corn borer populations, Ostrinia nubilalis, from North America and Europe was assessed by polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) analysis and DNA sequencing. The nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) region (≈ 500 base pair [bp]) and four mitochondrial (mtDNA) regions (1550 bp total) were examined. The smartweed borer, Ostrinia obumbratalis, and south-Western corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella, were used for comparisons. Of 106 restriction sites identified (80 in mtDNA and 26 in ITS-1), none differentiated geographical populations, pheromone races, or voltine ecotypes of the European corn borer. The lack of variation …

Susceptibility Of House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Larvae To Entomopathogenic Nematodes (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae, Steinernematidae, David B. Taylor, Allen L. Szalanski, Byron J. Adams, Richard D. Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

The potential for entomopathogenic nematodes to control flies in cattle feedlots was determined by screening 40 strains representing 8 species of Heterorhabditis Poinar and 5 species of Steinernema Travassos for virulence toward 3rd-instar house flies (maggots), Musca domestica L. None of the 22 strains of Heterorhabditis infecting maggots caused significant levels of mortality in a filter paper assay. Ten strains of Steinernema infected maggots, of which 7 strains--4 S. carpocapsa (Weiser), 2 S. feltiae (Filipjev), and 1 S. scapterisci (Nguyen & Smart) caused significant mortality. Ten Heterorhabditis strains and 10 Steinernema strains successllly reproduced for 22 generations in maggots. No …

Genetic Relationship Among Diabrotica Species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) Based On Rdna And Mtdna Sequences, Allen L. Szalanski, Richard L. Roehrdanz, David B. Taylor

David B. Taylor

Corn rootworms of the genus Diabrotica (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are the most serious pest of corn in midwestern United States. Despite their economic importance, phylogenetic relationships within the genus remain unclear. Phylogenetic analysis of five Diabrotica species and subspecies was undertaken using DNA sequences of the nuclear rDNA first internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1) and a portion of the mtDNA cytochrome oxidase I and II genes (COI/COII). Parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis indicated that southern corn rootworm is sister to banded cucumber beetle, whereas, northern corn rootworm forms a distinct clade with western and Mexican corn rootworm. ITS1 and COI/COII were …

Population Genetics And Gene Variation In Secondary Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae), David Taylor, Richard Peterson Ii

David B. Taylor

Allozyme variation in 4 populations of secondary screwworm, Cochliomyia macellaria (F.), representing North, Central, and South America was examined . Variability was observed in 12 of 13 enzyme loci, and the frequency of the most common allele was <0.95 for 6 loci . Observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.149 and 0.154, respectively. Nei's genetic distances were ≤ 0.001. Goodness-of-fit statistics for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and Wright's FIS statistics indicated random mating within populations . Wright's FST statistics and chi-square contingency analyses indicated homogeneous gene frequencies among the populations. These data suggest that C. macellaria is a panmictic species with high levels …

Gelled Diet For Screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Mass Production, David B. Taylor, Jimmy C. Bruce, Rene Garcia

David B. Taylor

A rearing system based on a diet gelled with Water-Lock G400, a synthetic superabsorbent (poly(2-propenamide-co-2-propenoic acid, sodium salt))( WL), was compared with the standard rearing system (liquid diet suspended in acetate fibers) for the mass production of screwworms, Cochlomyia hominivorax (Coquerel). The WL rearing system yielded 2% heavier pupae, 32% higher egg to pupa survival, and required 54% less diet and 88% less labor than the standard rearing system. Other advantages of the WL system include reduced susceptibility to suboptimal environmental conditions and labor practices, and characteristics conducive to centralization and mechanization of rearing procedures.

Sugar Feeding In Adult Stable Flies, David Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile

David B. Taylor

Adult stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans L.) are known to feed readily on sugars in the laboratory. However, little is known concerning the extent of stable fly sugar feeding in wild populations. We examined the frequency of sugar feeding in stable flies collected on Alsynite sticky traps in rural and urban environments. In addition, stable flies were visually examined to determine whether blood was present in the gut. In laboratory studies, sugars were detectable with the anthrone technique in stable flies for ~3 d after being imbibed, and blood could be visually detected in the gut for 24-48 h after feeding. …

Response Of Screwworms (Diptera: Calliphoridae) To Changes In The Concentration Of Blood, Egg, And Milk In The Larval Diet, David B. Taylor

David B. Taylor

Larvae of screwworm, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel), were reared on diets with varying concentrations of whole dried bovine blood, whole dried egg, and nonfat dried milk. Pupal weight, egg to pupal survival, adult emergence, sex ratio, fecundity, and fertility were significantly affected by one or more of the dietary components. Curvilinear models for the effect of dietary component concentration on life history parameters were derived by multiple regression. Most models resulted in bell-shaped curves that were used to calculate optimal diet component concentrations. Biomass, survival, emergence, and fecundity were maximized at 6% blood, 5% egg, and 1.3% milk.

Economic Impact Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) On Cattle Production., David Taylor, Roger Moon, Darrell Mark

David B. Taylor

Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), are among the most damaging arthropod pests of cattle worldwide. The last estimate of their economic impact on United States cattle production was published 20 yr ago and placed losses at $608 million. Subsequently, several studies of effects of stable flies on beef cattle weight gain and feed efficiency have been published, and stable flies have become increasingly recognized as pests of cattle on pasture and range. We analyzed published studies and developed yield-loss functions to relate stable fly infestation levels to cattle productivity, and then estimated the economic impact of stable flies on cattle …

Substrate Properties Of Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Developmental Sites Associated With Round Bale Hay Feeding Sites In Eastern Nebraska, Brian J. Wienhold, David B. Taylor

David B. Taylor

Residues at sites where stationary feeders were used to provide hay as supplemental forage for cattle during the winter are developmental substrates for immature stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), in the central United States. Spatial patterns in physical (substrate depth, temperature, water content), chemical (pH, electrical conductivity [EC_lab], total nitrogen [N] and carbon [C], ammoniacal nitrogen [NH₄-N], extractable phosphorus [P]), and biological (microbial respiration rate) substrate properties for two feeding sites were estimated and the correlations between these properties and adult emergence were characterized. Hay feeding sites had a circular footprint with residues extending ≈7m from …