The role of volatile semiochemicals in mediating host location and selection by nuisance and disease-transmitting cattle flies.

The role of volatile semiochemicals in mediating the location and selection within herds of Holstein-Friesian heifers by nuisance and disease-transmitting cattle flies was investigated using coupled gas chromatography-electrophysiology (GC-EAG), coupled gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), electrophysiology (EAG), laboratory behaviour and field studies. Using volatile extracts collected by air entrainment from heifers in the Netherlands, a number of active peaks were located by coupled GC-EAG for Musca autumnalis (de Geer) (Diptera: Muscidae) and Haematobia irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae). Volatile samples were also collected from two heifers in Denmark shown in previous counting experiments to differ significantly in their fly loads. Coupled GC-EAG using Ha. irritans antennae revealed differences in the EAG response to the samples, with additional EAG activity in the sample collected from the heifer with the lower fly load. To identify more EAG active compounds, volatiles were also collected from 48-h-old urine by air entrainment. In total, 23 compounds were located and identified by coupled GC-EAG and GC-MS. Further electrophysiological testing of these compounds with five fly species [M. autumnalis, Ha. irritans, Hydrotaea irritans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Musicidae) and Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)] showed that only some of the compounds were physiologically active across the range of flies tested. These included 1-octen-3-ol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, naphthalene, and all EAG active compounds identified from urine. Compounds showing significant EAG activity were tested for behavioural activity using a wind-tunnel designed for measuring upwind flight behaviour. At certain concentrations, 1-octen-3-ol, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and 3-octanol increased upwind flight, whereas naphthalene, propyl butanoate and linalool reduced upwind flight. In field studies using small herds of heifers ranked according to their fly load, individual slow-release formulations of 1-octen-3-ol and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, when applied to low and high fly loading heifers, reduced fly loads on these individuals. This study provides evidence for the hypothesis that the natural differential attractiveness within herds of Holstein-Freisian heifers, i.e. a single host species, for cattle flies is partly due to differences in volatile semiochemicals emitted from the host. It is suggested that this phenomenon applies to other vertebrate host species and their associated insect pests.

[Effectiveness of a PVC ear tag impregnated with the insecticide flucythrinate]. / De effectiviteit van een PVC oormerk geïmpregneerd met het insecticide flucythrinaat.

A PVC ear tag containing the synthetic pyrethroid flucythrinate was tested in seventeen herds including 218 heifers. There was a comparable control group of twelve herds including 157 heifers. The ear tags were more effective against sucking flies than they were against sticking flies. Varying with the species of the fly, the effectiveness ranged from 36.2 per cent to 95.7 per cent. The effectiveness also varied between the herds. The active constituent was still released within approximately 5 1/2 months after introduction.

Host finding and feeding in Hydrotaea irritans (Diptera, Muscidae): the role of chemical senses.

Hydrotaea irritans is commonly considered to be the primary vector for the bacteria which cause summer mastitis in cattle. A behavioural physiology approach was used to investigate potential host odours (kairomones) that may be used by the fly in finding its host and to determine which substrates or sites on the host may be utilised in feeding. Attractant odours include CO2 and butyric, propionic and acetic acids: the latter three are also produced by the bacteria causing summer mastitis. When milk, slaver, nasal secretion, mastitis secretion and blood were offered to flies as feeding substrates only the last three produced significant increases in feeding duration in comparison to controls offered distilled water.