House Flies and Their Types Quiz

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Questions and Answers

Which characteristic is used for identifying Chrysops spp.?

Whisker-like antennae

Short proboscis

Dark bands across wings (correct)

Sponging mouthparts

What is an effective control measure for Dipteran infestations?

Ignoring the infestation

Minimizing manure management

Feeding livestock during peak fly activity

Using insect repellents on livestock (correct)

What is the primary site for egg laying in Melophagus ovinus?

In the host’s wool (correct)

Decaying organic matter

Fresh feces

Wounds and secretions

Which disease is primarily transmitted by Culicoides spp.?

Bluetongue virus Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about Oestridae pathogenesis is true?

They can cause myiasis, which is harmful to hosts. Signup and view all the answers

What type of mouthparts do Tabanus spp. possess?

Slashing and sponging Signup and view all the answers

What behavior do horses exhibit to avoid Chrysops spp. bites?

Standing in shaded areas Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of Hypoderma spp. in terms of their lifecycle?

They migrate to different tissues of the host at specific instars. Signup and view all the answers

Which treatment is effective against early stages of Hypoderma spp. infestation?

Macrocyclic lactones administered at the right seasonal timing. Signup and view all the answers

What economic impact do 3rd instars of Hypoderma spp. cause?

They cause downgrading of carcass quality and damage. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key clinical sign of Hypoderma spp. infestation in cattle?

Faulty regurgitation and bloat. Signup and view all the answers

Which species is known as the sheep nasal bot?

Oestrus ovis Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary method of control for Melophagus ovinus in animals?

Use of repellents and insecticides Signup and view all the answers

During which life stage does Melophagus ovinus adhere to the fleece of sheep?

Third instar Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic feature of mosquitoes from the Culicidae family?

They have a long proboscis. Signup and view all the answers

What type of parasitism do Cuterebra spp. exhibit?

Obligatory parasitism Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential clinical sign of Cuterebra spp. infestation in a host?

Lump in neck Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the larvae of dipteran flies in the context of myiasis?

Obligatory larvae cannot survive without a host. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary health risks associated with the transmission of diseases by Culicidae?

Transmission of zoonotic diseases Signup and view all the answers

How is the life cycle of Melophagus ovinus characterized?

Egg hatches inside the adult Signup and view all the answers

What are the mouthparts of adult Oestridae characterized by?

Nonfunctional and vestigial Signup and view all the answers

Which factors determine the visibility of instars of Melophagus ovinus on fleece?

Their size and color Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

House Fly

Common name: House fly
Hosts: Animals and humans
Size: 5.5-7.5 mm
Mouthparts: Sponging
Eggs laid in: Animal manure and decaying organic materials

Face Fly

Common name: Face fly
Hosts: Animals and humans
Feed on: Animal secretions and wounds
Eggs laid in: Rotting organic materials
Eye disorders: Conjunctivitis
Vector of: Draschia megastoma and Habronema

Stable Fly

Common name: Stable Fly or Biting House Fly
Hosts: Animals and humans
Mouthparts: Suitable for blood taking
Position when resting: Sits on walls with its head facing up
Eggs laid in: Decaying matter, like damp hay
Do not: Treat compost

Horn Fly

Common name: Horn fly
Hosts: Cattle
Size: Half the size of a house fly
Position when resting: Swarms around horns after feeding; rests on back in swarms; at abdomen when rained on
Eggs laid in: Fresh feces
Treatment: Treat the host

Biting Midges

Common name: Biting midges or "no-see-ums"
Hosts: Animals and humans
Mouthparts: Short, piercing proboscis
Bite: Painful
Biological vector of: Several pathogens

Tabanids

Common name: Horse fly
Hosts: Large domestic or wild animals, humans, small mammals, birds
Size: Stout-bodied fly, 10 to 25 mm
Mouthparts: Slashing and sponging
Pathogenesis and lesions: Painful bites
Efficient mechanical vectors of: Several diseases
Clinical signs: Annoyance
Diagnosis: Identify the fly
Treatment and prevention: Cannot control via breeding sites; control in housing and on animals (use repellents, insecticides)

Deer Fly

Common name: Deer fly
Identification: Dark bands across wings, elongate antennae
Bite: Horses in shaded areas
Horses will: Stand in the sun to avoid bites
All other aspects are like: Tabanus spp.
Diagnosis: Identify the fly. Deer flies prefer shade.
Treatment and prevention: Cannot control via breeding sites; control in housing and on animals (use repellents, insecticides)

Melophagus ovinus

Host: Sheep
Identification: Dorsoventrally flattened, hairy, wingless dipteran; blood sucking mouthparts
Site(s) of infestation: Wool
Life cycle: Female produces one egg that hatches inside her body; third instar adheres to fleece; immobile instars pupate (3-4 mm) and are visible on fleece; adults emerge in 3 weeks in summer, longer in winter.
Diagnosis: Fly identification

Mosquitoes

Common name: Mosquitoes
Identification: Pair of wings, long thin legs, long proboscis, long antennae
Genera: 43
Pathogenesis and lesions: Transmit many diseases and pathogens

Myiasis

The infestation of: Living animals with the larvae of dipteran flies
Types of myiasis: Obligatory (cannot survive without a host); Facultative (optional)

Oestrids

Adults: Large hairy flies with nonfunctioning mouthparts; short-lived
Larvae: Obligatory parasites; host-specific
Examples: Cuterebra, Hypoderma, and Oestrus

Cuterebra spp.

Common name: Rodent or rabbit bot fly
Hosts: Rodents, rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, dogs, cats. Zoonotic.
Identification: Third instar and season (spring and summer)
Site(s) of infestation: Subcutaneous connective tissue, can locate in nasal and oral regions, and migrate to brain.
Pathogenesis and lesions: Fibrotic cyst forms from instar in subcutaneous tissue. Instar in the brain of a cat can lead to infarction
Clinical signs: Lump in neck, fur constantly wet, hole drips fluid.
Diagnosis: Instar can be removed whole. Type 1 hypersensitivity type reaction. Wound heals slowly.
Treatment and prevention: Several remedies may protect, but are not approved.

Hypoderma spp.

Common name (adults): Warble fly, heel fly, ox warble; Common name (in star): Cattle grub
Hosts: Cattle
Identification: Typical oestrid.
Life cycle: H. lineatum eggs laid in lines of 6 or more on the lower limb; adults active in early summer; H. bovis eggs laid singly; adults active in late summer.
Life cycle (continued): Overwinter as a first instar; H. lineatum accumulates in the submucosa of the esophagus; H. bovis accumulates in the epidural fat of the spinal cord.
Site(s) of infestation: Third instars found in lumps (warbles) on the backs of cattle in spring.
Pathogenesis and lesions: Third instars under the skin cause damage and downgrade carcasses, causing economic loss; H. lineatum death can lead to bloat; H. bovis toxins can lead to paraplegia.
Clinical signs: Faulty regurgitation, bloat, paraplegia.
Diagnosis: Identification of the parasite
Treatment and prevention: Macrocyclic lactones (MCLs) kill early stages; timing: late summer or early fall

Oestrus ovis

Common name: Sheep nasal bot, warble fly of sheep
Hosts: Sheep
Life cycle: Eggs laid in the nostrils of sheep; larvae migrate to the sinuses; mature larvae drop to the ground; pupate in the soil; the cycle continues.
Clinical signs: Sneezing, nasal discharge, head shaking, and poor weight gain
Diagnosis: Detection of larvae in the nasal passages; observation of the fly near the sheep.
Treatment: Ivermectin or moxidectin; apply as a pour-on or injectible. Prevented by good hygiene and the use of repellents.

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Description

Test your knowledge about different types of flies such as the House Fly, Face Fly, Stable Fly, and Horn Fly. This quiz covers their characteristics, habitats, and impacts on humans and animals. Dive into the world of these common insects and discover their significance.