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Seasonal Incidence, Abundance, and Control of the Buffalo Fly, Haematobia Exigua de Meijere (Diptera: Muscidae), on Cattle
Dissertation Abstract:
Seasonal fluctuation of the number of buffalo flies was monitored throughout a one-year period at several places in the vicinity of Los Baños and at the Dairy Training and Research Institute, University of the Philippines at Los Baños. Effort was exerted to correlate the abundance of buffalo flies with three climate components, namely: temperature, humidity, and rainfall.
High populations of buffalo flies occurred from July to December and low populations from January to May. The lowest population occurred in March and April. The rainy season, which started in June, accelerated the propagation of flies with peak activity in August. The flies' population declined in October when monthly total rainfall reached more than 400 mm. Excessive rain was detrimental because it inundated and washed the breeding sites.
Among the three components of climate, it was noted that humidity and rainfall had a greater correlation with the abundance of flies. However, two combined components of climate such as temperature-humidity and humidity-rainfall gave higher correlation with the fluctuation of fly populations.
The low number of buffalo flies coincided with decreasing moisture content of cow dung during the dry season. Lowering of dung moisture content was presumed to influence the number of eggs laid and duration of oviposition of the female flies.
The method of manure management (spreading of manures in the field) created an unfavorable environment for the development of immature stages of buffalo flies. Thus, flies were prevented from developing in the breeding medium.
The abundance of parasites of buffalo flies was dependent on the number of available host. However, it is suggested that the rate and extent of parasitism should be investigated further.
From all field samples collected, sex ration favored a large number of female flies. However, the percentage of female flies slightly decreased with the increasing abundance of flies particularly during rainy season.
Dichlorvos resin strip provided a sustained but slow release of insecticide vapor. Compared to dichlorvos EC (emulsifiable concentrate), it offered a more satisfactory control of buffalo flies.
A comparison of the efficacy of total against partial treatment of herds with insecticide was investigated. The evidences indicated that treatment of half of the herd had similar efficacy as that of 70 percent or total herd treatment.
On the observations of dispersal of buffalo flies, two-day old flies were marked with flourescent colors. Marked flies were released and captured at several distances from the point of release after 12 hours. The number of captured flies decreased as their distances traveled increased. The mode of transfer to other herds was presumed to be initiated and enhanced by the wind.