Preliminary survey of odours that attract the black fly, Simulium arcticum (Malloch) (IIS-10.11) (Diptera: Simuliidae) to its cattle hosts in the Athabasca region of Alberta

Abstract

Results of a field survey of certain host-related and off-the-shelf compounds as possible attractants for the black fly, Simulium arcticum (Malloch) (IIS-10.11) (Diptera: Simuliidae), are reported. Silhouette traps were baited with carbon dioxide and candidate attractants in an incomplete randomised block design. Carbon dioxide alone exerted a strong attractant effect on this species. Both acetone and crude whole body odour of cattle (tested in combination with carbon dioxide) were significantly more attractive than carbon dioxide alone (control). Although bovine urine produced larger catches than control (carbon dioxide only) traps, the effect was not statistically significant. Other odours tested in combination with carbon dioxide, including fractions of the crude bovine odour and l-octen-3-ol (a potent tsetse fly attractant), were without apparent attractant effect when compared to the carbon dioxide-only control.