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Phorid fly(Phoridae: Megaselia halterate) longevity and the disemination of nematodes (Allantonematidae: Howardula husseyi) by parasitised females
Author(s) -
RICHARDSON P.N.,
CHANTER D.O.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1979.tb04719.x
Subject(s) - phoridae , biology , parasitism , longevity , parasitoid , nematode , zoology , pteromalidae , spawn (biology) , toxicology , ecology , larva , host (biology) , genetics
SUMMARY The longevity of male and female Megaselia haltherata , 75% of parasitised by the nematode Howardula husseyi, was studied for 16 days at 20‐ 21.5 OC. A statistical model fitted to the data indicated that parasitism reduced fly longevity significantly; predicted times to 50% mortality were about 6 days shorter for parasitised males, but only 2 days shorter for parasitised females. An investigation of the number of nematode larvae liberated by female flies at intervals throughout the experiment showed that many had been liberated in the first 4 days, and that the rate of release then gradually declined. A statistical model for nematode dissemination rate was used to estimate the mean number of nematodes released at 4‐day intervals by surviving flies containing 1–5 adult H. husseyi . Mass release of laboratory‐reared parasitised flies on mushroom farms has been suggested as a possible method of boosting the incidence of parasitism in farm fly populations. The results of the present study indicate that if such a measure were taken in spawn‐running rooms then the best effect might be attained by releasing the flies in two batches with one release occurring in the middle of each week of the spawn‐run.