Biology and Trapping of Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) Developing in Pineapple Residues (Ananas comosus)in Costa Rica

Abstract

Pineapple production in Costa Rica increased nearly 300-fold during the last 30 yr, and >40,000 hectares of land are currently dedicated to this crop. At the end of the pineapple cropping cycle, plants are chopped and residues incorporated into the soil in preparation for replanting. Associated with increased pineapple production has been a large increase in stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), populations. Stable flies are attracted to, and oviposit in, the decomposing, chopped pineapple residues. In conjunction with chemical control of developing larvae, adult trapping is an important control strategy. In this study, four blue-black fabric traps, Nzi, Vavoua, Model H, and Ngu, were compared with a white sticky trap currently used for stable fly control in Costa Rica. Overall, the white sticky trap caught the highest number of stable flies, followed by the Nzi, Vavoua, Model H, and Ngu. Collections on the white sticky trap increased 16 d after residues were chopped; coinciding with the expected emergence of flies developing in the pineapple residues. During this same time period, collections in the blue-black fabric traps decreased. Sex ratio decreased from >7:1 (females:males) 3–7 d after chopping to 1:1 at 24–28 d. White sticky, Nzi and Vavoua traps collected similar numbers of colonizing flies 3–7 d after residues were chopped. However, white sticky traps collected more flies once emergence from the pineapple residues began. Although white sticky traps collected more flies than fabric traps, they remain labor intensive and environmentally unsound because of their disposable and nonbiodegradable nature.

Potential economic impact assessment for cattle parasites in Mexico. Review

“…The stable fly problem can be exacerbated in areas where high organic content, like hay waste residues, are present at or nearby pastures where cattle graze (76)(77)(78) . Heavy stable fly infestations can results in a reduction of weight gain and feed efficiency of confined and grazing beef cattle (79) .…”

Spatial repellency, antifeedant activity and toxicity of three medium chain fatty acids and their methyl esters of coconut fatty acid against stable flies

“…Furthermore, stable fly outbreaks associated with agronomic production in the past 10 years have caused infestation levels greatly exceeding 1000 flies per animal, which leads to high mortality rates among livestock. Especially in urban areas, this extends to companion animals . Stable flies are extremely difficult to manage since they are very adaptable.…”

“…The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), is considered one of the most serious biting fly pests of bovids and equines in livestock feedlot, barns and pasture settings . In the last decade, outbreaks of stable flies resulting from flies developing in decomposing crop residues have been reported worldwide, with particularly large outbreaks reported from Australia, and Central and South America . In addition to livestock, stable flies also attack wildlife, companion animals and humans.…”

Identification of stable fly attractant compounds in vinasse, a byproduct of sugarcane–ethanol distillation

“…until recently did they become a major agricultural concern in South America, where outbreaks of stable flies have been reported in various crops, including pineapple, vegetables and sugarcane (Barros et al, 2010;Chang et al, 2015;Solorzano et al, 2015). This is the first study to investigate chemical cues associated with sugarcane-ethanol distillation byproducts that are attractive to stable flies.…”

“…Stomoxys calcitrans, commonly known as the stable fly, is one of the major livestock biting flies that can successfully survive on a sugar-based diet (Taylor & Berkebile, 2008;Salem et al, 2012). The natural habitat of stable flies is in close proximity to livestock and decaying organic matter; however, in recent years there have been outbreaks associated with different types of agricultural crop (Solorzano et al, 2015). In Brazil, sugarcane has come to represent one of the crops in which stable fly outbreaks most commonly occur (Cancado et al, 2013).…”