Flies

Question 1

What are diptera?

Answer 1

Flies
means 2 wings

Question 2

What are the subgroups of flies/diptera?

Answer 2

Brachycera - short antennae
Nematocera - long antennae

Question 3

What are the direct and indirect effects of flies?

Answer 3

Direct:
-bites and allergies
- bot flies
- myiasis
indirect:
- transmission of infections

Question 4

What are the subgroups of nematocera flies?

Answer 4

Simuliidae
Culicidae
Ceratopogonidae
Psychodidae

Question 5

Describe the features of simuliidae flies

Answer 5

Black flies
- eggs and larvae in fast flowing water
- cause sweet itch in horses

Question 6

Describe the features of psychodidae flies

Answer 6

Sand flies
- eggs and larvae in humid soil
- transmits protozoan Leishmania

Question 7

Describe the features of ceratopogonidae

Answer 7

Biting midges
- eggs and larvae found in water or moist ground
- causes sweet itch in horses

Question 8

Describe the features of culicidae flies

Answer 8

Mosquitos
- eggs and larvae found in water or moist ground
- transmits dog heart worm (dirofilaria immitis)

Question 9

What common diseases are transmitted by mosquitos?

Answer 9

Heartworm - dirofilaria immitis
Malaria - plasmodium spp

Question 10

What are the families of brachycera flies?

Answer 10

Muscidae
Tabanidae
Hippoboscidae
Glossinidae
Oestridae
Sarcophagidae
Calliphoridae

Question 11

Which flies are included in the family tabanidae

Answer 11

Horseflies, deer flies, clegs

Question 12

What flies are included in the family hippoboscidae

Answer 12

Louse flies, keds
Obligate ectoparasites - both males and females feed on bood

Question 13

What flies are included in the family glossina and what does it cause?

Answer 13

Tsetse flies
Trypanosomiasis

Question 14

What genus/flies are included in the fly family oestridae (bot flies)

Answer 14

Gasterophilus (horse bot)
Oestrus (sheep nasal bot fly)
Hypoderma (heel flies, warble flies, cattle grubs)

Question 15

What is flystrike/myiasis?

Answer 15

Flies lay eggs into wounds, orifices or rotten fleeces
Adult flies are attracted to moist wound, skin lesion or soiled hair where they feed and lay eggs

Question 16

What is the effect of flystrike/myiasis

Answer 16

Infested animal may die from shock, histolysis or secondary infection

Question 17

Describe the features of the fly family calliphoridae

Answer 17

Blow flies/bottle flies
Cause strike in sheep and rabbits

Question 18

Describe the features of the fly family sarcophagidae

Answer 18

Flesh flies
Obligate larval parasite
Rapid and severe myiasis

Question 19

What flies are included in the family muscidae

Answer 19

Houseflies
Head flies
Stable flies (blood feeder)
Horn flies (blood feeder)

Question 20

Describe the effects of sheep head fly

Answer 20

Hydrotaea irritans
- feed on secretions from eyes, nose and debris at horn base
- feeding causes irritation and scratching -> resulting in wounds

Question 21

Describe the effects of horn flies

Answer 21

haematobia irritans
- takes blood meal, causes painful bites

Question 22

What bacteria can flies act as vectors in infection for?

Answer 22

Pinkeye
Summer mastitis
Can transmit faecal pathogens e.g., salmonell and campylobacter

Question 23

Describe husbandry control of flies

Answer 23

• remove litter/manure, carcasses
• ensure animals are healthy

Question 24

Describe the mechanical control of flies

Answer 24

• barriers, meshes, traps
• cleaning/burning

Question 25

Describe the chemical control of flies

Answer 25

insecticides, repellents

Question 26

Describe the biological control of flies

Answer 26

• parasitoid wasps
• nematodes/bacteria