Abstract
Odorous compounds produced at the biosolids composting plant in Bariloche (NW Patagonia) attract a variety of insects, mainly belonging to the order Diptera. In order to characterize these flies, collected specimens were taxonomically identified, their community characteristics were described and their sanitary and synanthropic importance and autochthonous or introduced character were determined. Sampling was performed from October 1999 until March 2000. Adults were collected using an entomological net, and larvae and puparia were obtained from the composting material and incubated to obtain adults. Richness, abundance and sex ratio were calculated. A total of 9 taxa of Diptera were identified: Sarconesia chlorogaster, Phaenicia sericata, Calliphora vicina, Cochliomya macellaria, Ophyra sp, Muscina stabulans, Musca domestica, Sarcophaga sp and Fannia sp. Specimens of Anthomyiidae, Acaliptratae and one larva of Eristalis tenax were also found. Ophyra sp. was the most abundant taxa. All the captured Diptera belonged to introduced taxa. Most of them are considered to be eusynanthropic and/or hemisynanthropic and have sanitary importance as they may cause myiasis and pseudomyiasis. The high number of females registered and the finding of immature stages indicated that flies can develop their complete life cycle on biosolid composting windrows. The characterization of flies obtained in this study may be useful for defining locations of urban or semi-urban composting facilities. It also highlights the importance of sanitary precautions at such plants.
Highlights
Composting is one of the best alternatives for the beneficial land use of biosolids
The high number of females registered and the finding of immature stages indicated that flies can develop their complete life cycle on biosolid composting windrows
The characterization of flies obtained in this study may be useful for defining locations of urban or semi-urban composting facilities
Summary
Composting is one of the best alternatives for the beneficial land use of biosolids. This extensive worldwide practice transforms potentially risky wastes into an odorless, innocuous and stable organic amendment, called “compost”.9 An adequate composting process ensures effective pathogen and odor reduction and, the attraction of vectors such as insects, birds or rodents decreases drastically.At the biosolids composting plant in Bariloche (NWPatagonia), 450-500 m3 of biosolids per month have been composted outdoors in turning windrows since1998.9 Odorous compounds are naturally produced during this process, especially during the thermophilic period (temperatures above 45oC), when the greatest biological activity takes place, due to degradation of labile compounds. Odors are emitted as moist aerosols when windrows are turned for aeration and may contain appreciable levels of volatile organic acids.[2] This odor emission restricts the installation of composting facilities near urban centers, and is a cause for concern because it attracts potential disease-transmitting vectors. Among these are sarcosaprophagous and/or coprophagous insects, especially flies, which become important as the nexus between different infectious foci and man and his products.[3,9,14]
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