Chronological Age-Grading of House Flies by Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

The sensitivity and accuracy of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was compared with that of the pteridine fluorescence technique for estimating the chronological age of house flies, Musca domestica (L.). Although results with both techniques were significantly correlated with fly age, confidence limits on predicted ages generally were smaller with NIRS. Young flies could be readily differentiated from old flies by using NIRS. Age predictions using the pteridine method are dependent upon size, sex, and temperature at which adult flies are exposed. In contrast, those factors do not need to be determined for age-grading using NIRS. Classification accuracy using the NIRS method was similar for whole flies, fresh heads, dried heads, and ethanol-preserved heads. The NIRS method was also suitable for predicting age of stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), and face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer. NIRS has several advantages over the measurement of pteridine levels for age-grading field-collected flies, including speed and portability of instrumentation, and not needing to determine sex, size, and temperatures to which adult flies were exposed.

Non-destructive Determination of Age and Species of Anopheles gambiae s.l. Using Near-infrared Spectroscopy

“…The wavelengths that contribute most to the age classification model agree with those that have been reported when age-grading the house fly Musca domestica (L.). 60 Cuticle deposition occurs with regularity in Anopheles, but ceases after 10-14 days. 33 This thickening of the cuticle may be influencing our classification models from 0 to 10 days, and F igure 6.…”

Chronological Age-Grading of Three Species of Stored-Product Beetles by Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

“…ConÞdence limits for the short-lived house ßy were also very similar (Ϯ0.26) with the NIRS methods when converted to a relative chronological age scale (Perez-Mendoza et al 2002). Other age-grading studies have not reported conÞdence limits on predictions.…”

“…For researchers to use this technology, an NIR spectrophotometric system with a Þber optic probe should be obtained. As suggested by Perez-Mendoza et al (2002), each instrument will need to be calibrated independently but the PLS beta coefÞcients should be similar to those reported in the current study.…”

“…aging might be responsible for NIRS absorption differences between young and old ßies (Perez-Mendoza et al 2002). However, additional studies are needed to directly link changes in these cuticular lipids in adult insects to age classiÞcation by NIRS.…”

Infrared Absorption Characteristics of Culicoides sonorensis in Relation to Insect Age

“…Because most of these techniques are laborious, spectroscopic methods have also been developed as rapid methods for age determination of numerous insects. Near-infrared spectroscopy has been used to age-grade storedproduct beetles (Perez-Mendoza et al, 2004), houseflies (Perez-Mendoza et al, 2002), mosquitoes (Mayagaya et al, 2009), and biting midges (Reeves et al, 2010). Near-infrared spectroscopy uses the overtone and combination bands of fundamental mid-infrared absorption bands of insects.…”