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Immunological determination of predators of the bush fly, Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae), in south-western Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

M. C. Calver ,
J. N. Matthiessen ,
G. P. Hall ,
J. S. Bradley  and
J. H. Lillywhite
M. C. Calver
Affiliation:
External Studies Unit, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150
J. N. Matthiessen
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Entomology, Private Bag, P.O. Wembley, Western Australia, 6014
G. P. Hall
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Entomology, Private Bag, P.O. Wembley, Western Australia, 6014
J. S. Bradley
Affiliation:
School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150
J. H. Lillywhite
Affiliation:
Mt Barker Senior High School, Mt Barker, Western Australia, 6324
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Abstract

Six hundred and twelve anthropods from 11 families collected in and around cattle dung in south-western Australia were screened using a general antiserum against all developmental stages of Musca vetustissima Walker with gel precipitin and immunoelectroosmophoresis (IEO) tests. Positive results were found in Staphylinidae (65%), Histeridae (64%), Carabidae (12%), Dermaptera (21%) and Lycosidae (27%). The relative proportions of predator species varied in different sites, but three staphylinids (Leptacinus socius (Fauvel), Philonthus longicornis Stephens and P. subcingulatus MacLeay) and one histerid (Saprinus sp.) were widespread and numerous and consistently had a high proportion of positive results. Compared to precipitin tests, IEO was found to extend detection times for a single meal from two to five hours for small staphylinids and from 24 to 36 hours for larger carabids. In subsamples of P. subcingulatus and Saprinus sp. collected on the same day at one site, the relative proportions of positive results using IEO and gel precipitation, respectively, were 74 and 23% for P. subcingulatus and 95 and 53% for Saprinus sp.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 76 , Issue 1 , March 1986 , pp. 133 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

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