Arthropod-induced mortality in immature stages of the bush fly, Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae)

Abstract

AbstractLaboratory and field experiments were carried out in Australia to determine the effect of arthropods in cattle dung on the survival of the eggs and larvae of Musca vetustissima Wlk. They were tested in the numbers in which they came to dung pads near Canberra, during the 1978–79 and 1979–80 seasons. Laboratory tests indicated that the mite Macrocheles glaber (Müll.), the hydrophilid Cercyon sp. and the histerid Saprinus sp. were all very effective predators. The native dung beetles Onthophagus granulatus Boh. and O. australis Guér. exerted only a marginal controlling effect; and the staphylinid and aphodiine beetles were found to be largely ineffective. The control exerted by the total field fauna when brought into the laboratory was considerable when one or more of the three species of effective predators was present. In the field trials, the control of M. vetustissima was further enhanced by the adverse influence of weather.