Caged Flies Research Articles

Analysis of the Circular Economy's Implementation at Maggot House Mengger Sub-District Bandung City

In 2023, the city of Bandung faced serious problems because the Sarimukti landfill caught fire and the city of Bandung experienced a "waste emergency". One of the programs launched is the construction of maggot houses in every sub-district in Bandung City with a target of processing 1 ton of organic waste/day. Mengger Sub-district is one of the sub-districts that received assistance to build maggot house. The land area of ​​the maggot house is 150 m2, managed by 4 officers. This study aims to identify various problems that must be resolved first so that the circular economy concept can be implemented at the Mengger Maggot House. The study was carried out by conducting observations, detailed surveys and in-depth interviews with various stakeholders in Mengger Sub-district. Observations were carried out to see the level of compliance of residents in sorting, a detailed survey was carried out on the waste collection and processing system at the maggot house, and in-depth interviews were conducted with assistants from Bandung City Environmental Service Office (DLH), maggot buyers, sub-district officials, maggot house officers, neighbourhood (RT) and hamlet (RW), and waste collector. Based on the results of observations, it was found that only some residents carry out sorting consistently, a collection system already exists in each RT/RW but they have not implemented a segregated waste collection system, and there is no system for transporting waste from the RW to the maggot house so that the amount of organic waste entering the maggot house is still low, no electricity and clean water, no choppers, leaks in the fly cage, and no diversification in maggot products. Through various socialization activities and Focus Group Discussions with all stakeholders, various agreements were obtained to resolve various problems at the Mengger Maggot House.

Harmonic radar tracking of individual melon flies, Zeugodacus cucurbitae, in Hawaii: Determining movement parameters in cage and field settings.

Tephritid fruit flies, such as the melon fly, Zeugodacus cucurbitae, are major horticultural pests worldwide and pose invasion risks due primarily to international trade. Determining movement parameters for fruit flies is critical to effective surveillance and control strategies, from setting quarantine boundaries after incursions to development of agent-based models for management. While mark-release-recapture, flight mills, and visual observations have been used to study tephritid movement, none of these techniques give a full picture of fruit fly movement in nature. Tracking tagged flies offers an alternative method which has the potential to observe individual fly movements in the field, mirroring studies conducted by ecologists on larger animals. In this study, harmonic radar (HR) tags were fabricated using superelastic nitinol wire which is light (tags weighed less than 1 mg), flexible, and does not tangle. Flight tests with wild melon flies showed no obvious adverse effects of HR tag attachment. Subsequent experiments successfully tracked HR tagged flies in large field cages, a papaya field, and open parkland. Unexpectedly, a majority of tagged flies showed strong flight directional biases with these biases varying between flies, similar to what has been observed in the migratory butterfly Pieris brassicae. In field cage experiments, 30 of the 36 flies observed (83%) showed directionally biased flights while similar biases were observed in roughly half the flies tracked in a papaya field. Turning angles from both cage and field experiments were non-random and indicate a strong bias toward continued "forward" movement. At least some of the observed direction bias can be explained by wind direction with a correlation observed between collective melon fly flight directions in field cage, papaya field, and open field experiments. However, individual mean flight directions coincided with the observed wind direction for only 9 out of the 25 flies in the cage experiment and half of the flies in the papaya field, suggesting wind is unlikely to be the only factor affecting flight direction. Individual flight distances (meters per flight) differed between the field cage, papaya field, and open field experiments with longer mean step-distances observed in the open field. Data on flight directionality and step-distances determined in this study might assist in the development of more effective control and better parametrize models of pest tephritid fruit fly movement.

Urban warming and artificial light alter dormancy in the flesh fly.

Seasonal changes in temperature and day length are distinct between rural and urban areas due to urban warming and the presence of artificial light at night. Many studies have focused on the impacts of these ubiquitous signatures on daily biological events, but empirical studies on their impacts on insect seasonality are limited. In the present study, we used the flesh fly Sarcophaga similis as a model insect to determine the impacts of urbanization on the incidence and timing of diapause (dormancy), not only in the laboratory but also in rural and urban conditions. In the laboratory, diapause entry was affected by night-time light levels as low as 0.01 lux. We placed fly cages on outdoor shelves in urban and rural areas to determine the timing of diapause entry; it was retarded by approximately four weeks in urban areas relative to that in rural areas. Moreover, almost all flies in the site facing an urban residential area failed to enter diapause, even by late autumn. Although an autumnal low temperature in the urban area would mitigate the negative effect of artificial light at night, strong light pollution seriously disrupts the flesh fly seasonal adaptation.

DISINFESTATION OF MANGOES HADEN IN-FESTED BY Anastrepha fraterculus (WIED., 1830) (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE), WITH GAMMA RADIATION

The objective of experiment was determinate the radiation dose for disinfestation to mango Mangifera indica cv. Haden, infested by Anastrepha fraterculus larvae. For realization of the experiment, were collected fruits in the field, which were taking to Entomology laboratory where there was a infestation by the flies in cages during 72 hours period. Waited for the development of the larvae and before 5 – 8 days to infestation, the mangos were irradiated in a Cobalt-60 source with doses of: 0(control), 50, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1.100, 1.200 and 1.300 Gy. After the irradiation, the fruits were placed in climate chamber with 25 ±5°C of temperature and 70±5% of relative humidity, posteriorly waited the larvae exit to out of the fruit until the transformation in pupae and posteriorly in adult stage. By the results obtained our can concluded that the lethal dose to larvae in mangoes infested with 5-8 days after infestation were 600 Gy and 1.000 Gy (0.6 and 1 kGy) respectively. The dose of 50 Gy prevented the total adult emergence for both treatments.

Potentials of Plant Oil Extracts (Azadirachta indica and Ocimum suave) in Single and Mixed Forms Against Adult House Fly (Musca domestica)

The insecticidal potentials of plant oil from neem (Azadirachta indica) seeds and wild basil (Ocimum suave) leaves was applied as individual oils and mixed equal proportion (50:50) against adult house flies (Musca domestica). The experiment was setup on a completely randomised design using two replicates per concentration's formulation. Oils from the extracts of Azadirachta indica and Ocimum suave were formulated as emulsifiable concentrates at 0.005, 0.010, 0.015, 0.20/50 ml of water, and then sprayed on 15 newly emerged reared adult house flies in cages at an hour interval for six hours. There was significant difference (P < 0.05) in the percentage mortality of adult house flies as the concentration increased from 0.005–0.20/50 ml water of both the single formulations (A. indica and O. suave) and the equally mixed 50:50 ratio. There was also significant difference as the time of exposure increased from the first hour to the sixth hour. The concentration of A. indica and O. suave required to cause 50 % mortality of adult house fly was 0.066/50 ml water at 3.4 h and 0.072/50 ml at 3.8 h, respectively, while the concentration of the mixed oils at equal proportion (50:50) required to cause 50 % mortality of house fly was less (0.065/50 ml water) and at 3.4 h. This study has therefore revealed the potency of the plant oil extracts (A. indica and O. suave) as single and mixed at equal proportion (50:50) against house fly (M. domestica). However, the formulation of the mixed plant oil required to cause 50 % mortality of the house fly was less, showing higher potential over the single formulations. Therefore using the mixed plant extracts is recommended for the proper management of house fly.

Comparative Study of Promastigote- and Amastigote-Initiated Infection of Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) in Phlebotomus perniciosus (Diptera: Psychodidae) Conducted in Different Biosafety Level Laboratories.

Sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) are natural vectors of Leishmania. For the initiation of sand fly experimental infections either Leishmania amastigotes or promastigotes can be used. In order to obtain comparable results, it is necessary to adjust and standardize procedures. During this study, we conducted promastigote- and amastigote-initiated infections of Leishmania infantum Nicolle, 1908 parasites in Phlebotomus (Larroussius) perniciosus Newstead, 1911 in two laboratories with different levels of biosafety protection. Protocol originally designed for a biosafety level 2 facility was modified for biosafety level 3 facility and infection parameters were compared. Particularly, specially designed plastic containers were used for blood feeding; feeders were placed outside the sand fly cage, on the top of the mesh; feeding was performed inside the climatic chamber; separation of engorged females was done in Petri dishes kept on ice; engorged females were kept in the cardboard containers until dissection. All experiments, conducted in both laboratories, resulted in fully developed late stage infections with high number of parasites and colonization of the stomodeal valve. We demonstrated that protocol originally designed for biosafety level 2 facilities can be successfully modified for other biosafety facilities, depending on the special requirements of the individual institution/laboratory.

Effect of Metarhizium anisopliae (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) on food consumption and mortality in the Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

AbstractAnastrepha ludens(Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is an important pest of mango and citrus in Mexico. Here, we report the effect of the entomopathogenic fungusMetarhizium anisopliae(Metsch.) Sorokin strain MAAP1 on mortality and food consumption inA. ludensadults. Experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions at 26 ± 2 °C, 60 ± 5% RH and 12:12 photoperiod. To assess pathogenicity and sublethal effects, we sprayed flies with 1 × 109conidia/ml and 1 × 106conidia/ml solutions, respectively. Food consumption was measured by providing known amounts of food through capillary tubes to caged flies. We found thatM. anisopliaewas highly virulent toA. ludens, causing 92.3 ± 0.62% mortality at day 13 post-exposure. Interestingly, food consumption reduced by 17% in flies exposed to the fungus. These results support the implementation ofM. anisopliaewithin current strategies used for the integrated pest management ofA. ludens.

Assessing Transmission of Salmonella to Bovine Peripheral Lymph Nodes upon Horn Fly Feeding

Biting arthropods are implicated in the transdermal transmission of Salmonella to bovine peripheral lymph nodes, and such contamination can contribute to increased Salmonella prevalence in processed beef. Since horn flies can acquire Salmonella and then excrete the bacteria in their feces, on-animal fly infestations were conducted in this study to assess whether horn flies have a role in this bacterial transmission. Three Salmonella serotypes were used to assess fly acquisition from and excretion onto cattle. The results indicated that flies can acquire Salmonella from the hide, as assessed by recovery from homogenates of surfacesterilized flies, and that Salmonella persists for at least 5 days in the fly. Fly fecal excreta serves as a bacterial contaminant on the hide, and the overall mean probable estimate of the quantity shed was ≈10(5) most probable number per fly cage area. In 5 days, no transmission of the bacteria to bovine peripheral lymph nodes was evident, prompting an assessment of the effects of prolonged horn fly feeding on transmission. Three groups of animals were infested with flies that had consumed a blood meal containing Salmonella Senftenberg. After 5 days, the study was either terminated or the flies were removed and the cages replenished with unfed flies either once or twice over the course of an 11- or 19-day fly exposure period, respectively. A microlancet-inoculated positive-control animal was included in each group for comparison. The impact of prolonged horn fly feeding was evident, as 8% of lymph nodes cultured were positive from the 5-day exposure, whereas 50 and 42% were positive from 11- and 19-day exposures, respectively. Higher concentrations of Salmonella were recovered from fly-infested animals than from the microlancet-inoculated control, likely a result of repeated inoculations over time by flies versus a single introduction. The data described provide new insights into the transmission dynamics of Salmonella in cattle populations, highlighting a role for biting flies as an important reservoir.

Temperature-Mediated Kill and Oviposition of Western Cherry Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Presence of Spinosad.

Western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), is a quarantine pest of sweet cherry (Prunus avium (L.) L.) that is managed using insecticides, including spinosad, an organic compound that can be applied in low spray volumes. Identifying factors that can increase the efficacy of spinosad can be useful for improving fly control. Here, the major objective was to determine if temperature mediates kill and oviposition of R. indifferens in the presence of low spinosad coverage in the laboratory. Experiments were conducted by placing flies in cages with cherries and with a Petri dish containing 3-12 small spots of dry spinosad at 18.3, 23.9, and 29.4°C. Effects of spinosad rates were also determined. More flies were killed at 23.9 and 29.4°C than at 18.3°C by 1-7 d post exposure. More flies were killed at 29.4 than 23.9°C by 1 d post exposure. However, flies laid more eggs at these temperatures than at 18.3°C. Higher spinosad rates increased kill and decreased oviposition, but even within the highest rate, oviposition was greater at 29.4 than 18.3°C. More flies walked over 5-min observation periods at 29.4 and 23.9°C than 18.3°C, suggesting higher temperatures up to 29.4°C increase kill by increasing fly contact with spinosad as well as increase oviposition rate. Results suggest that spinosad rates in sprays used against R. indifferens should be greater at higher than lower ambient temperatures.

Microinjection techniques for studying centrosome function in Drosophila melanogaster syncytial embryos.

Microinjection is a powerful technique that can be used to study protein function. Early Drosophila embryos are particularly amenable to microinjection due to their large size and their single cell status. Here, we report methods to microinject these embryos with various reagents to study the function of proteins at centrosomes and centrosome function more generally. Although precise details vary between laboratories, many aspects of the process are conserved. We describe the process from setting up a fly cage to imaging the injected embryos on a spinning disk confocal microscope and use specific examples to highlight the potency of this technique.

Controlling and sampling adult sand flies with a fumigant containing permethrin and deltamethrin

The efficacy of a new smoke-generating formulation (fumigant, MidMos Solutions Ltd., GB), containing the active ingredients permethrin and deltamethrin, was evaluated against adult sand flies in an apartment (280 m(3)), a semi-open large animal shelter (enclosing an area of 300 m(2)), a closed Bedouin animal tent (104 m(3)), and a garden (141 m(2)) enclosed by a stone wall. In each location, four cages with approx. 100 Phlebotomus papatasi were exposed to the fumigant 0.5 m and 2.0 m above ground for 15 and 60 min. Controls were kept in untreated similar rooms and there were two repetitions. In the apartment and the animal tent, a single cartridge caused 100% mortality within 15 min. In the large animal shelter, one fumigant caused mortality of 86% in the lower cages and 75% in the upper cages after 15 min. After 60 min, mortality was 94 and 87%, respectively. With two fumigants, mortality was 98.5 and 91% after 15 min and after 60 min all sand flies were dead. In the garden, one fumigant caused mortality of 93% in the lower cages and 85.5% in the upper cages after 15 min. After 60 min the mortality was 98 and 92%, respectively. With two fumigants, all flies were dead within 15 min.

Evaluation of ULV Applications Against Old World Sand Fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) Species in Equatorial Kenya

Reducing populations of phlebotomine sand flies in areas prevalent for human leishmaniases is of ongoing importance to United States military operations and civilian populations in endemic regions. However, not enough is known regarding the efficacy of Department of Defense-approved pesticides and equipment against sand flies; specifically, the potential for ultra-low volume (ULV) pesticide applications to control Old World sand fly vectors. In this study we examine two sprayers, the Terminator ULV and the Grizzly ULV, with UV-labeled Duet and Fyfanon in four combinations against caged Phlebotomus duboscqi (Neveu-Lemaire) and wild sand fly populations in a natural environment in western Kenya. All equipment and Fyfanon have United States military National Stock Numbers and both pesticides are registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Caged sand flies were reared from local P. duboscqi and the area has long been studied because of high incidences of human cutaneous and visceral Leishmania. Patterns of mortality across grids of caged sand flies showed greater efficacy from the Grizzly ULV regardless of chemical. The Terminator ULV performed well with Duet but with a less uniform and overall lower rate of mortality across the spray grid. Sampling of wild populations before and after treatments suggested local population suppression from ULV treatments, as well as a possible repellent effect in nearby untreated areas. Surprisingly, ULV active ingredient deposition inferred from patterns of UV-labeled droplets captured on cotton ribbons adjacent to sand fly cages in spray plots did not match patterns of mortality. We discuss the implications of this study, the first of its kind, for future military preventive medicine activities, including relative performance costs and benefits of larger or smaller sprayers, and the relative stability of ULV-induced mortality patterns in varied or sub-optimal conditions.

Use of modified cages attached to growing calves to measure the effect of stable flies on dry matter intake and digestibility, and defensive movements

The effects of stable flies on growing calves were examined using fly cages attached to the animals. Dry matter intake, DM digestibility (DMD), and behavioral responses of calves were monitored. Nine Holstein calves were exposed to 3 levels of stable flies (0, 10,

Evaluation of transmission of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) between persistently infected and naive cattle by the horn fly (Haematobia irritans)

Identifying reservoirs and transmission routes for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) are important in developing biosecurity programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate BVDV transmission by the hematophagous horn fly (Haematobia irritans). Flies collected from four persistently infected cattle were placed in fly cages attached to principal (n = 4) and control (n = 4) BVDV-naïve calves housed individually in isolation rooms. Flies were able to feed on principal calves, but a barrier prevented fly feeding from control calves. Flies were tested for BVDV by RT-PCR and virus isolation at time of collection from PI cattle and after 48 h of exposure on BVDV-naïve calves. Blood samples were collected from calves and tested for BVDV infection. Virus was isolated from fly homogenates at collection from PI animals and at removal from control and principal calves. All calves remained negative for BVDV by virus isolation and serology throughout the study. Bovine viral diarrhea virus may be detected in horn flies collected from PI cattle, but horn flies do not appear to be an important vector for BVDV transmission.

Host Status of Litchi and Rambutan to the West Indian Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Fruit of litchi, Litchi chinensis, and rambutan, Nephelium lappaceum, were collected from the field in 2006 and 2007 and monitored for the emergence of West Indian fruit flies, Anastrepha obliqua. Fruit clusters of rambutan and litchi, with a piece of the peel removed to allow access to ovipositing females, were also placed in cages and exposed to 12-d-old post-eclosion male and female West Indian fruit flies for 48 h. These exposed fruit were then monitored for the emergence of A. obliqua. Mango fruit were simultaneously exposed to male and female A. obliqua in separate cages and monitored for the emergence of A. obliqua. Fruit fly traps baited with putrescine and ammonium acetate were placed in orchards of litchi and rambutan, as well as an adjacent orchard of carambola, Averrhoa carambola, to demonstrate the presence of fruit flies while litchi and rambutan were fruiting. Although we collected 3732 ripe litchi fruit (40.34 kg) and 5534 ripe rambutan fruit (166.60 kg), none of these yielded tephritid larvae. Litchi and rambutan fruit exposed to adult fruit flies in cages did not yield tephritid larvae, though similarly exposed mangoes did. We conclude that litchi and rambutan have an undetectably low probability of being infested by A. obliqua in Puerto Rico.

Flies (Diptera: Muscidae: Calliphoridae) Are Efficient Pollinators of &lt;I&gt;Allium ampeloprasum&lt;/I&gt; L. (Alliaceae) in Field Cages

In conjunction with efforts to identify efficient insect pollinators for seed multiplication of cross-pollinated plant species stored and maintained by USDA-ARS Western Regional Plant Introduction Station (WRPIS), experiments were conducted to assess and compare the efficiency of the house fly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), and Calliphora vicina Robineau-Desvoidy (Diptera: Calliphoridae), and different densities of each fly species, to pollinate leek, Allium ampeloprasum L., plant inventory (PI) accessions in field cages for seed yield maximization and high germination. Cages with flowering plants were exposed to 0 flies or stocked with 100, 250, and 500 M. domestica or C. vicina pupae per week for 6 (2002) and 7 (2004) wk. Seed yield (weight per cage) increased linearly as fly densities (C. vicina or M. domestica) increased from 0 to 500 pupae per week, with 500 fly cages averaging 340.7 g (C. vicina) and 70.5 g (M. domestica) of seed in 2002 (PI 368343) and 615.3 g (PI 168977) and 357.5 g (PI 368343) in 2004 when only the C. vicina was used. For 0, 100, and 250 fly cages, seed yields averaged between 2.3 and 175.3 g in 2002 and 10.7 and 273.1 g in 2004. Mean 100-seed weights between treatments ranged narrowly between 0.4 and 0.5 g in 2002 and 0.3 and 0.4 g in 2004, and germination rates of seed lots from "fly cages" were mostly > or =80% in both years. The C. vicina is an efficient and cost-effective pollinator ($388.97 for pupae and shipping, compared with $2,400 for honey bee, Apis mellifera L. [Hymenoptera: Apidae], nuclei) for caged leek accessions, with 250 and 500 C. vicina pupae per week required to produce sufficient seed (130 g) to fill an accession storage bag in the WRPIS gene bank.

Lifetime reproductive output of Calliphora vicina and Lucilia sericata in outdoor caged and field populations; flight vs. egg production?

Females of the blowflies Calliphora vicina (Robineau-Desvoidy) and Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) maintained in sheltered outdoor cages and supplied with excess food, oviposited later than would have been expected from the temperature-sum. The survival rates of the caged flies was high and the isolation of flies from predation, extreme temperatures and food shortages is likely to have contributed to this. Despite good survival rates, subsequent egg production over the greater part of the adult life span was reduced to approximately 24% for C. vicina and approximately 55% for L. sericata, of the potential expected from the published temperature-sums required for the maturation of successive egg batches. The data suggest that under field-cage conditions there is a considerable variation in egg development between individuals of the same age and that this variation should not be overlooked, since it may have significant implications in ecological and forensic investigations; however, the cause of this variability remains unclear. While lower than expected, the reproductive outputs recorded in the cages were nevertheless considerably greater than those that have been estimated for blowflies in the field and illustrate the potential for population increase in these species under favourable conditions. The possibility of a greater energy investment in flight activity relative to reproductive output in C. vicina compared to L. sericata is proposed.

Adult mortality and oviposition rates in field and captive populations of the blowfly Lucilia sericata

Abstract. 1. Adult mortality and oviposition rates were determined for populations of the blowfly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). This species is of economic importance as the primary agent of sheep myiasis throughout north‐western Europe.2. Populations of marked flies in six, 1 m3, outdoor field cages and unmarked wild flies at two farms in south‐west England were studied simultaneously between May and September 1998.3. In the field, wild female L. sericata were caught and aged using a combination of wing‐fray and ovarian dissection techniques. Survivorship analysis gave estimates of mortality of 1.94% (± 0.037) and 2.09% (± 0.044) per day‐degree and mean life expectancy of 51.5 and 47.9 day‐degrees above a threshold of 11 °C, at the two farms studied. Mean lifetime reproductive output in the field was estimated to be 159.6 and 138.4 eggs per female at the two farms respectively.4. The survivorship of cohorts of marked female flies in cages was followed by counting the number of dead individuals each day; the mortality rate of these flies was 0.81% per day‐degree (± 3.49 × 10−4%) and the mean life expectancy was 123.1 day‐degrees above a threshold of 11 °C. Mortality rate was shown to increase significantly with average ambient temperature and relative humidity lagged for two sample periods (approximately 10 days). Oviposition rate also increased with average temperature but declined with average relative humidity. A best‐fit multiple regression model incorporating both ambient temperature and humidity explained 60.5% of the variance in the pattern of oviposition.5. The differences between the field and cage populations highlight the caution required when extrapolating life‐history parameters from artificial to natural habitats.

Technique development of attractant test for Chrysomya bezziana in laboratory and semi-field conditions

Swormlure (SL-2), synthetic attractant for the New World Screwworm Fly (NWSF), Cochliomya hominivorax , have been developed and used in the America. The effectiveness of swormlure in attracting the Old World Screwworm Fly (OWSF) , Chrysomya bezziana is not well defined. The aim of the study was to provide suitable condition of the attractant in trapping the higher number at the OWSF in laboratory (cage assay) and semi-field (room assay) conditions. The cage assay to screen responses olfactory stimuli of OWSF was developed to asses the fly responses to lights, exhaust fan (on or off), the flies’ physiological status and whether there was any bias between cages or trap positions. Modifications were made to provide suitable physical and environmental conditions for candidate attractant. These included darkening all windows with paper, the construction of support for the fly cages and installation of additional lights centred above the fly cages. The room assay was used as an intermediate step between the cage assay and the field experiment. The number of entered flies into the trap indicated flies respond to SL-2. The data of cage assay was analysed by ANOVA and data of room assay was analysed by T test (5%). The results showed that standard experimental conditions for the cage assay: two lights above the cages on and the central lights off, covering fluorescent lights with oil paper, the jar trap positions on the centre line parallel to the lights and exhaust fan was turned off (no air flow) during the session but was turned on in between sessions to reduce the odour from SL-2 in laboratory (p>0.05). The standard experimental conditions for the room assay used four fluorescents tubes, exhaust fan turned off during the replicates but turned on after replicated 3 and 6 for 15 minutes. Yellow half-size sticky was used as standard target (p>0.05). Key words: Swormlure, SL-2, attractant, Chrysomya bezziana

An experimental study of the peridomestic distribution of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae)

AbstractLutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz &amp; Neiva), the vector of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL), is much more abundant in animal sheds than in houses on Marajó Island, Pará State, Brazil. This difference in abundance is known not to reflect host preference. We show here that it also cannot be explained in terms of variable trapping efficiency, or insecticide application, and we exclude animal sheds as important daytime resting sites. In experimental sheds, the number of L. longipalpis increased markedly with the openness of the walls, though artificially large aggregations of flies could be generated in closed houses by using caged flies and hosts as attractants. We conclude that L. longipalpis tend to congregate at sites outdoors, including animal sheds, because these are the places where leks can most easily form on abundant, stationary (sleeping) and accessible hosts. These results help to explain why the seroprevalence of Leishmania chagasi infection is generally much higher among dogs than humans. They also indicate that human exposure to sandfly bites varies with the quality of house construction.