EMERGENCE, HOST‐FINDING AND LONGEVITY OF ADULT HAEMATOBIA IRRITANS EXIGUA DE MEIJERE (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE)

Patterns of emergence and of host location by adults of the buffalo fly were examined under ambient conditions. Most buffalo flies (90%) developing from eggs laid at the same time emerged from puparia between 1200–2000 h daly over 4 days; 88% of the total adult emergence appeared on days 2 and 3. The sex ratio of the total emergence was 1:1, but more females than males emerged on day 1. Of the male and newly emerged female flies which found an isolated cow in the field, most (90%) arrived from 1600–0800 h. The majority of females collected at the cow were nulliparous (61%) and most of these (86%) were newly emerged. Males and newly emerged females showed similar diel arrival patterns, but older female flies showed no pattern. The longevity of flies that were either netted from cattle, newly emerged from puparia, or netted from dung following oviposition was measured in the laboratory at 27 ± 1.5°C in the absence of a host. Flies held at 60–70% RH and given water lived twice as long as those without water. Flies lived longer at 90–93% RH but provision of water did not increase their survival.