Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Entomology Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Entomology

Sugar Feeding In Adult Stable Flies, David Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile Feb 2012

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. …


Economic Impact Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) On Cattle Production., David Taylor, Roger Moon, Darrell Mark Dec 2011

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 …


Dispersal Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) From Larval Developmental Sites., David B. Taylor, Roger D. Moon, Jack B. Campbell, Dennis R. Berkebile, Philip J. Scholl, Alberto B. Broce, Jerome A. Hogsette Jan 2010

Dispersal Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) From Larval Developmental Sites., David B. Taylor, Roger D. Moon, Jack B. Campbell, Dennis R. Berkebile, Philip J. Scholl, Alberto B. Broce, Jerome A. Hogsette

David B Taylor

Seven mark-recapture studies were conducted over 3 yr to assess dispersal of newly emerging adult stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans L., from larval development sites in a mixed agricultural environment in northeastern Nebraska. Infested hay debris piles were marked by dusting their surfaces with fluorescent pigments, adults were captured with surrounding grids of Alsynite sticky traps, and specimens were dissected to determine feeding histories and reproductive age. Distances and directions of 3,889 marked specimens indicated males and females dispersed equally and in all directions. Midguts of males and females were equally likely to contain blood-meal remnants. Percentage with blood remnants and …


Dispersal Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) From Larval Developmental Sites., David B. Taylor, Roger D. Moon, John B. Campbell, Dennis R. Berkebile, Philip J. Scholl, Alberto B. Broce, Jerome A. Hogsette Dec 2009

Dispersal Of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) From Larval Developmental Sites., David B. Taylor, Roger D. Moon, John B. Campbell, Dennis R. Berkebile, Philip J. Scholl, Alberto B. Broce, Jerome A. Hogsette

David B. Taylor

Seven mark-recapture studies were conducted over 3 yr to assess dispersal of newly emerging adult stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans L., from larval development sites in a mixed agricultural environment in northeastern Nebraska. Infested hay debris piles were marked by dusting their surfaces with fluorescent pigments, adults were captured with surrounding grids of Alsynite sticky traps, and specimens were dissected to determine feeding histories and reproductive age. Distances and directions of 3,889 marked specimens indicated males and females dispersed equally and in all directions. Midguts of males and females were equally likely to contain blood-meal remnants. Percentage with blood remnants and …


A New Method For Collecting Clean Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Pupae Of Known Age., Dennis R. Berkebile, Anthony P. Weinhold, David B. Taylor Jan 2009

A New Method For Collecting Clean Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Pupae Of Known Age., Dennis R. Berkebile, Anthony P. Weinhold, David B. Taylor

David B Taylor

Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans L., are important pests of confined and pasture cattle. They have been reared in the laboratory to study their biology and to test new methods of control. Research on rearing modifications has concentrated on developing larval diets from materials locally abundant. Under current protocols, pupae form in the medium. Aggregations of pupae were located and removed, often with a considerable amount of extraneous material. Various methods have been developed to separate the pupae from waste material. We describe a method by which wandering larvae are enticed to leave the medium prior to pupariation. The larvae were …


Stable Fly Population Dynamics In Eastern Nebraska In Relation To Climatic Variables., David B. Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile, Philip J. Scholl Dec 2006

Stable Fly Population Dynamics In Eastern Nebraska In Relation To Climatic Variables., David B. Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile, Philip J. Scholl

David B. Taylor

Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), are among the most economically important arthropod pests of livestock in North America. In this study, we monitored the seasonal dynamics of a stable fly population in eastern Nebraska for 5 yr. Models based upon temperature and precipitation were developed to determine the affects of these variables on population levels as well as to project population trends. Stable flies appear in eastern Nebraska in late March to early April, and they build to a peak population during the last week of June and first week of July. In most years, the population decreases in midsummer, …


Comparative Efficiency Of Six Stable Fly Traps., David B. Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile Dec 2005

Comparative Efficiency Of Six Stable Fly Traps., David B. Taylor, Dennis R. Berkebile

David B. Taylor

Five adhesive traps and the Nzi cloth-target trap were compared to determine their trapping efficiency and biases for stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae). Two configurations of the BiteFree prototype trap, constructed of polyethylene terephthalate, were most efficient for trapping stable flies, whereas the EZ trap was least efficient. The two Alsynite traps, Broce and Olson, were intermediate to the BiteFree prototype and EZ traps. All adhesive traps collected a ratio of approximately two males for each female. Approximately 50% of the flies collected on the adhesive traps, both male and female, were blood fed, and 20% were vitellogenic. …