Domestic Filth Flies in New Haven, Connecticut: A Case Study on the Effects of Urbanization and Climate Change by Comparing Fly Populations after 78 Years.

Abstract

Simple SummaryDomestic filth fly population data were collected in the summers of 1942–1944 in the urban city of New Haven, Connecticut, during a polio epidemic. The current survey was completed 78 years later by setting out a weekly trap in the same region during June–September over a two-year period. Results indicate that the fly population has changed in the city, with 16 fewer species trapped overall, and there have been changes in the fly species trapped. Some species have increased in abundance, notably Lucilia coeruleiviridis, while numbers of the common Lucilia sericata have decreased, and Lucilia illustris was absent. Changes in land cover and climate were also assessed to show that the trap site has experienced significant habitat change, together with an increase in the average temperature and rainfall. Fly numbers were significantly affected by temperature and rainfall in both the 1940s and the current survey. The results of this study suggest the prolonged period of urbanization of the region is influencing the domestic filth fly population.Changes in common and widespread insect populations such as the domestic filth fly in urban cities are useful and relevant bioindicators for overall changes in the insect biomass. The current study surveyed necrophagous flies by placing a weekly trap from June–September over a two-year period in the city of New Haven, Connecticut, to compare data on fly abundance and diversity with data collected 78 years earlier. Climate and land cover changes were also assessed in combination with the fly population for each period. The survey results suggest the domestic filth fly population is now less diverse with decreased species richness and changes in the relative abundance of species. In both surveys, 95–96% of the population was composed of only three species. The current survey data indicate the numerical dominance of Lucilia sericata has decreased, the abundance of several species, notably Lucilia coeruleiviridis, has increased, and Lucilia illustris is absent. Species that showed a significant interaction with temperature in the 1940s survey have now increased in abundance, with several of the trapped species continuing to show an interaction with temperature and rainfall. Analysis of the land cover and climate data characterizes the trap site as a region exposed to a prolonged period of industrialization and urbanization, with only 7% of the land cover remaining undeveloped and over 50% impervious, coupled with an increase in temperature and rainfall. This study serves as a model for changes in domestic filth fly populations and other insects in similarly highly urbanized established cities.