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THE SEASONAL ACTIVITY OF HEMATOPHAGOUS DIPTERA ATTACKING CATTLE IN INSULAR NEWFOUNDLAND

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

John W. McCreadie
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada AlB 3X9
Murray H. Colbo
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada AlB 3X9
Gordon F. Bennett
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada AlB 3X9

Abstract

A cattle-baited (C-B) trap and a Trueman–McIver (T-M) segregating CO2 trap provided information on seasonal abundance, host-seeking activity, and blood-feeding of biting-flies near St. John's, Newfoundland. A total of 19 682 biting-flies (26 species) were collected (C-B trap = 11 407; T-M trap = 8275) from 26 May to 16 September 1982. Black-flies (Simuliidae) comprised 94.1% of the total sample (C-B trap = 10 747; T-M trap = 7773). Mosquitoes (Culicidae), biting midges (Ceratopogonidae), and tabanids (Tabanidae) comprised the remainder. Blood-fed flies represented 54.7% of the total catch in the C-B trap, but the proportion varied considerably among species. Black-fly activity was concentrated in June and July, though flies were also collected in May, August, and September. Prosimulium mixtum was the predominant species in June and Simulium venustum/verecundum complex was the major pest in July. Prosimulium mixtum was most active from mid-morning to late-afternoon, with little evening activity. Simulium venustum/verecundum complex showed 2 peaks of activity, one in the morning and another in the early evening. A few P. mixtum and S. venustum/verecundum complex were active after dark. Captures from the T-M and C-B traps were compared to test the reliability of the T-M trap as an indicator of activity of biting-flies attracted to cattle. Significant correlations (P < 0.001) between the number of flies collected in the 2 traps were found for P. mixtum and S. venustum/verecundum complex. Remaining species were taken in numbers too low for analysis.

Résumé

Un piège appâté avec un bovin (C-B) et un piège Trueman–McIver (T-M), appâté au CO2, furent utilisés pour étudier l'abondance saisonnière, l'activité de chasse et l'alimentation en sang des diptères piqueurs aux environs de St-Jean, Terre-Neuve. Au total, 19 682 diptères piqueurs (26 espèces) furent capturés (piège C-B = 11 407; piège T-M = 8275) du 26 mai au 16 septembre 1982. Les mouches noires (Simuliidae) représentaient 94,1% de l'échantillon (piège C-B = 10 747; piège T-M = 7773). Le reste se composait de moustiques (Culicidae), de brûlots (Ceratopogonidae) et de taons (Tabanidae). Sur les diptères capturés au piège C-B, 54,7% avaient eu un repas de sang, mais cette proportion variait beaucoup entre les espèces. Les moches noires étaient actives surtout en juin et juillet, mais des individus furent aussi capturés en mai, août et septembre. Prosimulium mixtum prédominait en juin, et le complexe Simulium venustum/verecundum, en juillet. Le maximum d'activité du P. mixtum avait lieu du milieu de la matinée à la fin de l'après-midi, avec très peu d'activité le soir. Le complexe S. venustum/verecundum avait 2 pics d'activité, l'un dans la matinée et l'autre au début de la soirée. Quelques P. mixtum et S. venustum/verecundum étaient actifs la nuit. Les captures au piège T-M et au piège C-B furent comparées pour vérifier si le piège T-M était un indicateur fiable de l'activité des diptères piqueurs attirés par les bovins. Des corrélations significatives (P < 0,001) entre le nombre de mouches capturées avec les 2 pièges furent observées pour P. mixtum et le complexe S. venustum/verecundum. Le nombre de prises des autres espèces était trop petit pour permettre l'analyse statistique.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1985

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