Studies on the large-scale rearing of the stable fly, Stomoxys nigra Macquart (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

A laboratory colony of Stomoxys nigra Macq. was established in February 1976. Techniques were developed to produce 100 000 to 125 000 pupae daily in a larval room of 12 m2. The adults were fed on stored titrated blood and reared at a density of 500 pairs dn nylon cages with sides of 30 cm. The adult room was maintained at 29±1·5°C, 75–80 % RH and LD 14:10. To ensure a continuous supply of ovipositing individuals, 24 new cages with mature pupae were daily put in the adult room (capacity 280 cages) and an equal number of cages containing senile flies were removed. Eggs were harvested on moist khaki cloth below the adult cages, then concentrated in a trough of water and seeded at the rate of 1 ml (10 500 eggs) per kg of larval medium. The larval medium consisted of a mixture of 4 parts by weight of shredded sugar-cane (or elephant grass) leaves, 1 part soft Wheat bran and water at 2 ml/g dry matter. Larvae were reared in trays (45×35×7.5 cm) covered with cloth sacks to prevent invasion by pests. Eleven days after seeding, pupae were separated from the medium by flotation over water. From 2 September 1977 to 8 December 1977 forty trays, each yielding from 2000 to 3500 pupae, were harvested daily.

Effects of Temperature on the Rate of Increase of <I>Stomoxys calcitrans</I> and <I>Stomoxys niger niger</I> (Diptera: Muscidae) from La Réunion Island

“…To calculate net reproductive rate, generation time, and the intrinsic rate of increase, the immature developmental time and immature survival that were determined at each temperature by Gilles et al (2005) were used. The proportion of females surviving from the egg stage to age x (l x ) was calculated as the product of immature survival and female survival from emergence to age x. Age-speciÞc fecundities were divided by two (m x ϭ M x /2), assuming 1:1 sex ratios (Ramsamy 1979, Lysyk 1998. Net reproductive rate (R 0 ) was calculated as ͚ xϭ0 l x m x , cohort generation time (T c ) was calculated as ͚ xϭ0 xl x m x /R 0 , and the intrinsic rate of increase (r) was calculated using the Euler-Lotka equation 1ϭ͚ xϭ0 e Ϫrx l x m x (Hedrick 1984, David et al 1995.…”

Microsatellite loci in the stable fly, Stomoxys niger niger (Diptera: Muscidae) on La Réunion Island

“…In Mauritius, the biology of S. niger and S. calcitrans has been well documented (Ramsamy 1979, 1980). On this island, these species occur in large populations close to dairy cattle barns and show variation in seasonal abundance among regions.…”

Efficiency of traps for Stomoxys calcitrans and Stomoxys niger niger on Reunion Island

“…These insects are suspected of transmitting the haemoparasite Anaplasma marginale (Theiler), the causal agent of anaplasmosis, which is considered the first cause of mortality of dairy cattle by the local authorities (Réseau d’Epidémio‐Surveillance de l’Ile de la Réunion [RESIR]) (Squarzoni, 2001). Consequently, Stomoxys species are recognized as serious pests in Reunion and Mauritius, where they are probably responsible for considerable economic losses (Moutia, 1928; Monty, 1972; Kunz & Monty, 1976; Ramsamy, 1979).…”