BIONOMICS OF THE FACE FLY, MUSCA AUTUMNALIS

• Published in: Annual review of entomology Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 503 - 523
• Main Authors: Krafsur, Elliot S, Moon, Roger D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palo Alto, CA 94303-0139 Annual Reviews 01.01.1997; 4139 El Camino Way, P.O. Box 10139; USA
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Domestic; BIOGEOGRAFIA; BIOGEOGRAPHIE; BIOGEOGRAPHY; Biological and medical sciences; cattle disease; CICLO VITAL; CONTROL DE INSECTOS; CYCLE DE DEVELOPPEMENT; DIAPAUSA; DIAPAUSE; DINAMICA DE LA POBLACION; DISEASE VECTORS; DYNAMIQUE DES POPULATIONS; Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GENETICA DE POBLACIONES; Genetics, Population; GENETIQUE DES POPULATIONS; geographic spread; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; INSECT CONTROL; LIFE CYCLE; LUTTE ANTIINSECTE; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; MUSCA AUTUMNALIS; Muscidae; Muscidae - classification; Muscidae - genetics; Nuisances; POPULATION DYNAMICS; POPULATION GENETICS; REVIEWS; sterile insect technique; VECTEUR DE MALADIE; VECTORES; VECTORS; Life history; Muscidae; Nuisance; Taxonomy; Insecta; Diapause; Overwintering; Biological control; Autocidal control; Biogeography; Population genetics; Survival; Musca autumnalis; Seasonal variation; Arthropoda; Population dynamics; Livestock; Invertebrata; Fecundity; Diptera; Population density
• ISSN: 0066-4170; 1545-4487
• DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ento.42.1.503

The face fly was introduced from the Palearctic region and spread across North America in 20 years after World War II. Adults feed on cattle and horses, and larvae develop in fresh cattle dung. Little genetic differentiation appears between European and North American populations and among regions within North America. After an autumnally initiated diapause, overwintered flies emerge in spring and reproduce through late spring and summer. Generations after the first overlap, and age structure develops toward a stable age distribution. After three to ten generations, depending on weather, facultative diapause interrupts host feeding and oogenesis, and flies with hypertrophied fat body enter overwintering hibernaculae. Life table statistics and factors affecting population growth and diapause are reviewed. Early views on the fly's effects on animal productivity may have been exaggerated. On-farm control by conventional means has not been effective because of the fly's population dynamics and mobility. We suggest that the alternatives of classical biological control and area-wide control with the sterile insect technique should be considered.