Incidence and effect of Heterotylenchus autumnalis on the longevity of face flies in Mississippi.

Abstract

Heterotylenchus autumnalis Nickle was found infecting Musca autumnalis De Geer in Mississippi from May to October in 1973 and 1974. During the winter of 1972, 1973, and 1974, this nematode was found in 16.2% of males and 21.3% of female face flies collected from hibernating sites. Among adults reared from field collected larvae, 18.1% of all males and 16.3% of all females were infected. H. autumnalis infections tended to increase prior to hibernation of the adult face fly. A study of 6 replicates of face flies reared from field collected 3rd instars indicated that longevity of face flies was not affected by infections of the nematode. Also, a mortality of 50% among all female and male face flies without nematodes occurred by the end of 60 and 70 days, respectively. Among flies with nematodes, 50% mortality of both males and female face flies occurred by the end of 72 days.