Maggot Mortality Research Articles

Hypersensitive response and induced resistance in rice gene differentials against biotype 1 of Asian rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzae at Mandya, Karnataka

Hypersensitive reaction (HR) and induced resistance were noticed in resistant rice genotypes infested by gall midge. Detailed observations on Phalguna (Gm2 gene), Abhaya (Gm4 gene), ARC 5984 (Gm5 gene) infested with gall midge biotype 1 revealed that the infestation triggered HR in the plant, leading to extensive tissue necrosis at the apical meristem and browning of central leaf. This was followed by maggot mortality and premature tillering. In susceptible genotypes this phenomenon was not evident. HR leading to necrosis is fatal to host plant but premature tillering was observed. Further, the secondary tillers were infested subsequently with the gall midge biotype 1 eggs at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after primary infestation, and maggots failed to establish and cause silver shoot. However, HR was observed 6 days after secondary tiller infestation, when the primary tillers were infested 28 days after. But cent per cent maggot mortality was observed, regardless of the time interval between infesting primary and secondary tillers in all the HR + plants. Thus, the HR is not confined to the tillers of primary infestation but it also triggers systemic acquired resistance in other tillers in Phalguna, Abhaya and ARC 5984, whereas, in W1263 (Gm1 gene), HR+ was not evident but antibiotic effects were observed along with maggot mortality.

Evaluation of entomopathogens against blossom midge, Contarinia maculipennis Felt in Jasmine (Jasminum sambac L.)

The efficacy of microbials against jasmine blossom midge ( Contarinia maculipennis Felt) was evaluated under in vitro and field conditions. The results revealed that Metarhizium anisopilae @ 1 × 10 8 spores ml -1 recorded maximum maggot mortality over untreated control (80.06 per cent) followed by Beauveria bassiana @ 1 × 10 8 spores ml -1 spores ml -1 recording 67.57 per cent mortality. The Paecilomyces lilacinus @ 1 × 10 8 spores treated maggots recorded minimum reduction of 50.56 per cent. However, the standard profenophos 50 EC treated maggots recorded 83.78 per cent reduction. Further, field evaluation for confirmation revealed similar trend confirming the efficacy of M. anisopilae with minimum infestation of 8.32, 7.69 and 7.31 per cent followed by B. bassiana recording 8.86, 8.93 and 8.50 per cent and L. lecani recording 9.97, 10.26 and 11.77 per cent infestation after first, second and third round of application respectively.

Airworthiness testing of medical maggots.

An investigation was conducted to test and certify medicinal maggots to facilitate rapid healing of traumatic and chronic wound infections in Wounded warriors being transported onboard military aircraft. Our specific aims included (1) to test the ability of medical grade larvae to withstand the rigors of U.S. Army aeromedical certification, including tolerance to change in pressure, temperature, and humidity inside ground-based chambers; (2) to evaluate the efficacy of the medical grade larvae during a high-vibration rotary-wing medical transport flight; and (3) to gain U.S. Army aeromedical certification and U.S. Air Force safe-to-fly approval and begin the steps needed to deploy/implement the use of medicinal maggots in patient care regimes for medical airlift standard operating procedures. This report outlines the ground-based and initial air-based tests performed during the study. Maggot mortality was very low during all tests, with a mortality rate of less than 1%. Maggot growth rates in wound arenas were mixed but generally depended on temperature. Overall, the results of these tests suggest that medicinal maggots can withstand the rigors of aeromedical evacuation flights in simulated flight environments and rotary- or fixed-wing aircraft.

Management of Uzi fly, Exorista bombycis (Louis) with Botanical Insecticides

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of leaf extracts as ovipositional deterrents, ovicide and maggoticide against uzi fly, Exorista bombycis (Louis) at three concentrations viz., 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 per cent. Among the treatments, 0.8 per cent of Eucalyptus citriodora recorded reduced oviposition (54.50 %), egg hatchability (63.85 %) and maggot recovery (74.00 %) followed by Tridax procumbens (55.00, 64.73 and 75.00 %, respectively) and was statistically superior than distilled water (97.95 %) and absolute control (100.00 %). Significantly higher maggot mortality was registered at 0.8 per cent Eucalyptus citriodora (46.00 %) followed by T. procumbens (45.00 %) compared to distilled water (3.85 %) and absolute control (0.00 %). Spraying leaf extracts of E. citriodora and T. procumbens, also drastically reduced the pupation rate, adult emergence and fecundity of uzi fly.

Effectiveness of wound cleansing treatments on maggot (Diptera, Calliphoridae) mortality

Myiasis is defined as an infestation of the organs and/or tissues of human and other animals by fly maggots. Fly species that normally breed in meat or carrion (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae) may become involved in cutaneous myiasis by colonizing preexisting wounds. Reports of human wound myiasis contracted in hospitals and nursing homes, especially when patients are chronically ill or bed-ridden, are not uncommon across North America and often result in cases of neglect and civil litigation. Based on a case history dealing with this latter situation and circumstances surrounding the treatment of maggot infestation, we designed an experiment to assess the effectiveness of wound cleansing solutions on maggot mortality. Treatments, consisting of four commonly used cleaning solutions (isopropyl alcohol, Dakin's solution, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide) and a control (deionized water), were applied to experimental units (n=5), with each unit consisting of groups of actively feeding Lucilia sericata maggots (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Every 24h, treatments were applied and mortality was assessed for the duration of the study (14 days). Total mean mortality increased over the duration of the experiment, with an initial large increase (10-25%) after the first treatment application, followed by a gradual increase over the remainder of the study. General differences among treatments indicated greatest mean total mortality for Dakin's solution (sodium hypochlorite) (46%), followed by isopropyl alcohol (42%), Betadine (37%), hydrogen peroxide (33%) and lowest mortality for the control (25%); however, no statistically significant differences were observed among treatments and no treatment resulted in 100% maggot mortality. Traditional wound cleansing solutions may not be sufficient for maggot infestations of pre-existing wounds and supplemental treatments may be necessary to effectively treat cases of wound myiasis.

The Influence of Clothing and Wrapping on Carcass Decomposition and Arthropod Succession During the Warmer Seasons in Central South Africa*

The influence of clothing and wrapping on carcass decomposition and arthropod succession was investigated to provide data to enable estimated postmortem interval in homicide investigations. Six pig carcasses, Sus scrofa, were divided into three sample groups, each with a clothed carcass wrapped and a carcass wrapped with no clothes. Two more carcasses, one with no clothes or wrapping, the other with clothes and no wrapping were used as controls. The clothed or wrapped carcasses had larger visible maggot masses, which moved more freely and these carcasses took longer to dry out. The blow fly maggot masses were dominated by Chrysomya marginalis and Chrysomya albiceps. Oviposition occurred simultaneously on all carcasses. High temperatures in one case caused significant maggot mortality. The Coleoptera community was dominated by Silphidae, Thanathopilus micans larvae, Dermestidae, Dermestes maculatus adults and larvae, and Cleridae, Necrobia rufipes.

Resistance Mechanism in Rice to the Midge <I>Orseolia oryzae</I> (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

The midge Orseolia oryzae (Wood-Mason) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) is a major and endemic pest throughout Asia. The pest is difficult to manage in view of a mixture of biotypes co-occurring in the same location and showing variable response to cultivated rice, Oryza sativa L., varieties and differentials. To develop an understanding of the resistance mechanism(s), studies were initiated during wet 2005 and 2006 in Coastal Karnataka. Antibiosis was the predominant resistance category. The maggots survived but as first instar only on all the resistant genotypes. On susceptible genotypes, larvae reached second instar at 7 d after release, third instar at 14 d after release, and pupal stage at 18 d after adult release. However, in certain resistant genotypes, maggot mortality was evident in the absence of the susceptible plant silver shoot condition. In all resistant genotypes, distinct antibiosis was observed at 14 d after adult release. Antixenosis was evident in few genotypes. So, the midge resistance in rice is manifested as a mixture of antixenosis and antibiosis. Estimation of biochemical constituents in rice shoot apices of selected resistant genotypes revealed higher levels of total phenols and total free amino acids compared with susceptible genotypes. But, the amount of total sugars, reducing sugars, crude proteins, and amino acids were not related to resistance. Biochemical profiles in relation to midge infestation showed increased phenol and decreased proline and indole acetic acid content in the growing apical meristem of resistant genotypes compared with susceptible genotypes.

Lethal and sublethal effects of chlorantraniliprole on three species of Rhagoletis fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Chlorantraniliprole formulated as a 350 g kg(-1) WG (Altacor 35WG) for management of apple maggot Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), blueberry maggot R. mendax Curran and cherry fruit fly R. cingulata (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) was evaluated in laboratory assays and field trials. A tarsal contact toxicity bioassay showed that a surface residue of 500 mg L(-1) of chlorantraniliprole caused significantly higher mortality of male and female flies of all species compared with a control. Male apple maggot and blueberry maggot mortality was significantly higher than that for females, but there was similar mortality of male and female cherry fruit flies. An ingestion toxicity bioassay showed that 500 mg L(-1) of chlorantraniliprole in diet caused significantly higher mortality of male and female flies of all species than the control, but there were no significant differences among the sexes. Delayed egglaying by females that had ingested chlorantraniliprole was found, but there were no significant sublethal effects on either the number of eggs laid or the egg hatch. Field trials with apple maggot and cherry fruit fly showed that protection of fruit by chlorantraniliprole was comparable with that of standard broad-spectrum insecticides. The present data indicate that chlorantraniliprole has suppressant activity against Rhagoletis fruit flies, preventing fruit infestation primarily through direct lethal effects.

101. Chemoprophylaxis of filarial nematode infctions: natural exposure to avermectin-attenuated third-stage larvae does not engender protective immunity in a bovine model of onchocerciasis

Myiasis is defined as an infestation of the organs and/or tissues of human and other animals by fly maggots. Fly species that normally breed in meat or carrion (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Sarcophagidae) may become involved in cutaneous myiasis by colonizing preexisting wounds. Reports of human wound myiasis contracted in hospitals and nursing homes, especially when patients are chronically ill or bed-ridden, are not uncommon across North America and often result in cases of neglect and civil litigation. Based on a case history dealing with this latter situation and circumstances surrounding the treatment of maggot infestation, we designed an experiment to assess the effectiveness of wound cleansing solutions on maggot mortality. Treatments, consisting of four commonly used cleaning solutions (isopropyl alcohol, Dakin's solution, iodine, and hydrogen peroxide) and a control (deionized water), were applied to experimental units (n = 5), with each unit consisting of groups of actively feeding Lucilia sericata maggots (Diptera: Calliphoridae). Every 24 h, treatments were applied and mortality was assessed for the duration of the study (14 days). Total mean mortality increased over the duration of the experiment, with an initial large increase (10–25%) after the first treatment application, followed by a gradual increase over the remainder of the study. General differences among treatments indicated greatest mean total mortality for Dakin's solution (sodium hypochlorite) (46%), followed by isopropyl alcohol (42%), Betadine (37%), hydrogen peroxide (33%) and lowest mortality for the control (25%); however, no statistically significant differences were observed among treatments and no treatment resulted in 100% maggot mortality. Traditional wound cleansing solutions may not be sufficient for maggot infestations of pre-existing wounds and supplemental treatments may be necessary to effectively treat cases of wound myiasis.

Hypersensitive reaction and induced resistance in rice against the Asian rice gall midge Orseolia oryzae

AbstractRice seedlings of the resistant variety Phalguna showed premature tillering, browning of central leaf, and tissue necrosis at the apical meristem following artificial infestation with avirulent biotype 1 of the Asian rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzae (Wood‐Mason) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Tissue necrosis representing a typical hypersensitive reaction (HR), accompanied by maggot mortality, was observed within 4 days after infestation. However, reinfestation of secondary tillers subsequent to HR in primary tiller, did not lead to HR in secondary tillers though maggot mortality was seen. Artificial infestation with the weed gall midge O. fluvialis did not result in HR either in gall midge susceptible TN 1 or resistant Phalguna rice varieties. Resistance in Phalguna against the virulent biotype 4 could be induced by either prior, simultaneous, or subsequent infestation with the avirulent biotype 1. The duration of effectiveness of such induced resistance varied with the sequence and time lag between infestations.

Population Dynamics of the Alfalfa Blotch Leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Diptera: Agromyzidae), in Eastern Ontario: Impact of the Exotic Parasite Dacnusa dryas (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Colonization of eastern Ontario by the alfalfa blotch leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Rondani), during the mid-1970s was characterized by a rapid population buildup followed by an equally rapid decline to more tolerable levels. This decline occurred because of maggot mortality within the leaf mines from a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. A gradation to still lower levels resulted from attacks of the introduced exotic parasite Dacnusa dryas (Nixon). Thirty host life tables were derived from population and mortality data collected after establishment of the parasite and were compared to similar data for the period of colonization. Analysis of population change showed that D. dryas has become the principal agent that determines population trends and that maggot mortality is no longer the key factor, primarily because of a diminished level of larval intraspecific competition. D. dryas was released as a single species introduction, and within 3 yr of its establishment, it had caused a 50-fold reduction in numbers of its host. The success of the parasite is attributed to a high dispersal capability, a high degree of host specificity, excellent synchronization with its host, and a rapid rate of acclimation. Since the establishment of the parasite in eastern Ontario, generation survival of the leafminer has fallen by more than two-thirds, and populations have collapsed to subeconomic levels.

Population Dynamics of Alfalfa Blotch Leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Diptera: Agromyzidae), in Eastern Ontario: Analysis of Numerical Change During the Colonization Phase

Following its invasion of eastern Ontario during the mid-1970's, numbers of the alfalfa blotch leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Rondani), increased rapidly to economic proportions and then receded to near tolerable levels. Thirty-three life tables were compiled from population and mortality data collected during this colonization phase. Analysis of the components of mortality using a variance/covariance matrix of the separate mortalities, as expressed as k values, showed that maggot mortality within leaf mines was the key factor that determined population trends. Maggot mortality was the result of two contemporaneous processes fluctuating with a similar order of magnitude: exploitation and interference competition among instars, and predation by a complex of indigenous nabids and mirids. Although the former process was density dependent, its regulatory potential was damped by the inverse response of the predators, whose activity diminished the competitive interaction. Prepupal mortality was high but relatively invariant. Mortality from other causes was low and contributed little to population trend. Life tables for the larval stage in central Quebec resembled those for Ontario.

Life Table of Bessa harveyi (Diptera: Tachinidae) Parasitizing Pikonema alaskensis (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)

A life table of Bessa harveyi (Townsend), a parasite of yellowheaded spruce sawfly, Pikonema alaskensis (Rohwer), was constructed from field samples of eggs, firstinstar maggots, and adults. Major mortality factors of the parasite, in order of importance, were overwintering maggot mortality, superparasitism, egg infertility and sloughing, and fall emergence. Overwintering mortality included flooding, desiccation, freezing, predation, encapsulation by the host, and failure of adult flies to exit host cocoons. No obligatory diapause was detected when B. harveyi maggots were reared in the host at room temperature (21–22°C) and under constant light. The mean time for maggot development was 8.4 days (SE = 0.33). The sex percentage of 151 laboratory-reared puparia was 51.7% females. Total B. harveyi parasitism on P. alaskensis larvae was 16.7% in 1978 and 21.2% in 1979. B. harveyi is not well adapted to P. alaskensis . Therefore, B. harveyi is a polyphagous parasite that concentrates on the most predominant host in its range. We conclude that no practical method of improving the effectiveness of B. harveyi on P. alaskensis currently exists.