Host Specific Cephenemyia of Deer Repelled by Non-Host Odors

Abstract

Females of Cephenemyia apicata and C. jellisoni made significantly fewer (P < 0.05) larvipositions on baited models of black-tailed deer paired with a camouflaged sheep than on similar models operated without a paired sheep. Models were baited with CO2 and 1-octen-3-ol. In the absence of natural sheep odors these host specific flies were attracted to and larviposited on sheep models baited with CO2 and octenol and to CO2-baited odorless models of cows and horses. These results indicate that odors associated with sheep repelled host-seeking Cephenemyia females from baited deer models. Under natural conditions repellent odors of non-host species may assist in maintaining host specificity of these Cephenemyia species and in flies not wasting time and energy responding to non-host odors.