Flies

Question 1

what does the term diptera refer to

Answer 1

insects with 2 wings

Question 2

give examples of brachycera both their common and family names

Answer 2

• house fly, head fly, stable fly, horn fly = muscidae
• horseflies and deer flies = tabanidae
• keds and forest flies = hippoboscidae
• tsetse flies = glossinidae
• bot and warble fly = oestridae
• flesh flies = sarcophagidae
• blow flies = calliphoridae

Question 3

give examples of nematocera both their common names and family names

Answer 3

• mosquito = culicidae
• black flies = simulidae
• biting midges = ceratopogonidae
• sand flies = psychodidae

Question 4

name direct and indirect effects of the veterinary importance of flies

Answer 4

direct:
- bites and allergies
- bot flies
- myiasis causing flies

indirect:
- transmission of infections

Question 5

describe culicidae

Answer 5

• Mosquitoes
• 2-10 mm
• slender with long legs
• adult females have long proboscis
• crepuscular/nocturnal
• transmit plasmodium, dirofilaria and various viruses (west nile etc)

Question 6

describe psychodidae

Answer 6

• 3-5 mm
• hairy, moth like with long legs
• hop rather than fly
• hides in cracks and emerge to feed at night
• transmit leishmania

Question 7

describe the mosquito lifecycle

Answer 7

1. adult male and female mate
2. female needs blood meal for egg production
3. oviposition, eggs laid most time slightly above water level
4. when covered with water eggs emerge from eggs
5. have 4 larval stages
6. pupate
7. adult emerges from pupa

Question 8

where do blackflies like to lay their eggs

Answer 8

edges of fast flowing water

Question 9

explain the lifecycle of biting midges

Answer 9

1. adult males and females emerge in late spring - early summer
2. males and females feed on nectar until mating. mating kills male
3. female feeds on blood and develops eggs
4. eggs are laid in mass of 25-150 eggs on moist surfaces or in water. they hatch in 2-7 days
5. eggs hatch and larvae emerge. 2 types of larvae: caterpillary like and worm like. they typically develope in moist or wet habitats
6. 4 larval stages last from 2 weeks to a year
7. pupal stage completed in 2-3 days
8. adult emerges and continues cycle

Question 10

where do tabanidae flies like to lay their eggs

Answer 10

stems of plants

Question 11

why are hippoboscidae obligate ectoparasites

Answer 11

• both males and females feed on blood
• dont have wings or have wings but cant fly very far

Question 12

what are the 2 types of obligate bots (they have to infest tissues)

Answer 12

• bot flies (oestridae)
• flesh flies (sarcophagidae)

Question 13

describe the bot fly lifecycle

Answer 13

1. adult flies mate then females lay eggs on hair of horses
2. eggs contain first-stage larvae
3. eggs hatch and larvae enter the horse’s mouth
4. first stage larvae migrate through the tissues of the mouth
5. second stage larvae develope
6. third stage larvae attach to the mucosa of the stomach
7. bot larvae release hold and pass out in feces
8. pupae in soil
9. adult emerges

Question 14

describe the process of myiasis

Answer 14

• adult flies are attracted to a moist wound, skin lesion or soiled hair where they feed and lay eggs
• unless the process is halted, the infestated animal may die from shock, histolysis or secondary infection as the larva feed on the necrotic flesh and cause knock on inflammatory effects causing continued necrosis

Question 15

what are the primary agents of fly strike in the UK

Answer 15

• common green bottle
• black blow fly
• blue bottle fly

Question 16

list control measures against flies

Answer 16

• remove litter/manure, carcasses
• ensure animals are healthy (shear soiled wool/fur, clean and protect wounds
• apply barriers, meshes and tarps where applicable
• clean and burn materials where appropriate
• use insecticides and repellents responsibly on animals and in environment
• biological controls like parasitoid wasps and nematodes/bacteria to kill pests