Synanthropic flies of Asir Province, southwest of Saudi Arabia

• Main Authors: M.A. Kenawy, H.A. Al Ashry, M. Shobrak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: PAGEPress Publications 2014-12-01
• Series: Journal of Entomological and Acarological Research
• Subjects: synanthropic flies, Musca domestica, distribution, seasonal abundance, Asir Province, Saudi Arabia.
• Online Access: http://www.pagepressjournals.org/index.php/jear/article/view/4623

<p>A survey of synanthropic flies was carried out in 11 slaughter houses in 8 localities representing different altitudes in Asir. Flies were sampled twice a month from December 2008 to November 2009 by Final Flight Fly Traps. A total of 11,737 flies consisting of 19 species, belonging to 7 families were collected, of which those of family Muscidae predominated (94.88%) followed by Calliphoridae (3.12%), Sarcophagidae (1.22%) and Fanniidae (0.55%). The other 5 families (Piophilidae, Oestridae, Phoridae, Ulidiidae and Lonchaeidae) totally represented 0.79%. Of the identified species, <em>Musca</em> <em>domestica</em> was predominant (94.26%) followed by <em>Lucilia</em> <em>sericata</em> (1.51%), <em>Sarcophaga</em> <em>carnaria</em> (1.01%), <em>Chrysomya</em> <em>albiceps</em> (0.67%), <em>Fannia </em><em>canicularis</em> (0.55%), <em>Chrysomya</em> <em>marginalis</em> (0.54%), <em>Muscina</em> <em>stabulans </em>(0.52%), <em>Calliphora</em> <em>vicina</em> (0.39%), <em>Wohlfahrtia</em> <em>nuba</em> (0.14%), <em>Megaselia scalaris</em> (0.08%), <em>Lonchaea</em> sp. (0.06), <em>Bercaea</em> <em>cruentata </em>(0.05), <em>Ophyra</em> sp. and <em>Oestrus</em> <em>ovis</em> (0.04% each), <em>Atherigona</em> sp., <em>Piophila</em> <em>casie</em> and <em>Physiphora</em> <em>demandala</em> (0.03% each) and <em>Parasarcophaga</em> <em>ruficornis</em> (0.01). Flies altogether were more common (16 spp., 84.21%) and abundant (36.45 fly/trap) in highlands than in the other altitude levels. The highlands were found with the maximum Simpson (1-D=0.18) and Shannon (H=0.49, P&lt;0.001) diversity indices. Likewise, the highest density of <em>M</em>. <em>domestica</em> was in the highlands (P&lt;0.05). Regression analysis confirmed that house fly density was directly related to the altitude level (P&lt;0.05). In all altitude levels, housefly was active during the whole year with higher activities during months of low and moderate temperatures (spring, autumn and winter seasons). Analysis revealed that fly density had inverse relation with temperature.</p>