Population dynamics of stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) at an organic dairy farm in Denmark based on mark-recapture with destructive sub-sampling

TY - JOUR

T1 - Population dynamics of stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) at an organic dairy farm in Denmark based on mark-recapture with destructive sub-sampling

AU - Pedersen, Henrik Skovgård

AU - Nachman, Gøsta Støger

PY - 2012/2

Y1 - 2012/2

N2 - A population of stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), was studied on a Danish cattle farm in two successive years. Flies were captured monthly by sweep nettings and marked with fluorescent dust. Absolute population size, dilution rate, loss rate, and adult longevity were estimated by means of a modified version of Bailey's triple catch method. In both years, the abundance of flies peaked in July. Using a statistical model, we were able to explain 86.6% of the variation in the per capita growth rate r as a function of current temperature, precipitation, and population size. Omitting precipitation from the model, it still explained 69.3%. The model predicts that stable flies have a temperature optimum at 21.8°C, and that no development will take place when temperatures inside the stable are below 10.2°C or above 33.5°C. At the optimal temperature the intrinsic rate of natural increase is 0.070 d -1. The per capita dilution rate increased with temperature and decreased with population size, whereas no effect of these factors on the per capita loss rate could be shown. Mean adult survival time was estimated to 6.3 d with 95% CL ranging from 4.3 to 11.1 d. The study points at the possibility of developing predictive models as tools for achieving better, and more environmentally sound, control of stable flies.

AB - A population of stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), was studied on a Danish cattle farm in two successive years. Flies were captured monthly by sweep nettings and marked with fluorescent dust. Absolute population size, dilution rate, loss rate, and adult longevity were estimated by means of a modified version of Bailey's triple catch method. In both years, the abundance of flies peaked in July. Using a statistical model, we were able to explain 86.6% of the variation in the per capita growth rate r as a function of current temperature, precipitation, and population size. Omitting precipitation from the model, it still explained 69.3%. The model predicts that stable flies have a temperature optimum at 21.8°C, and that no development will take place when temperatures inside the stable are below 10.2°C or above 33.5°C. At the optimal temperature the intrinsic rate of natural increase is 0.070 d -1. The per capita dilution rate increased with temperature and decreased with population size, whereas no effect of these factors on the per capita loss rate could be shown. Mean adult survival time was estimated to 6.3 d with 95% CL ranging from 4.3 to 11.1 d. The study points at the possibility of developing predictive models as tools for achieving better, and more environmentally sound, control of stable flies.

KW - fluorescent marking

KW - Bailey's triple catch

KW - forecasting

KW - longevity

KW - cattle

KW - HOUSE-FLY DIPTERA

KW - MUSCA-DOMESTICA

KW - EASTERN NEBRASKA

KW - CALIFORNIA DAIRIES

KW - SEASONAL ABUNDANCE

KW - SPALANGIA-CAMERONI

KW - BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL

KW - PUPAL PARASITOIDS

KW - FLUORESCENT DUSTS

KW - FEED-EFFICIENCY

U2 - 10.1603/en11155

DO - 10.1603/en11155

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 22525056

SN - 0046-225X

VL - 41

SP - 20

EP - 29

JO - Environmental Entomology

JF - Environmental Entomology

IS - 1

ER -