An Epizootiological Study ofEntomophthora muscaein muscoid fly populations on Southern California poultry facilities, with emphasis onMusca domestica

Abstract

Infection by the pathogenic fungus Entomophthora muscae was monitored in muscoid fly populations on four caged-layer poultry facilities in southern California. Adult flies were captured every 1 to 2 weeks with sweep nets and held for 7 days in the laboratory to assess incidence of infection over a 2-year period. Patent Musca domestica and Ophyra aenescens infections were found throughout the year. Average prevalence of infection in M. domestica was highest (45 percent) in fall and lowest « 1 percent) in the hot summer months. Infection in O. aenescens at times approached 100 percent, with three peaks of E. muscae activity (March, June, November) coincident with peak population densities. Infections in Fannia canicularis and R femoralis were evident primarily in late spring. Peak average infections in R canicularis (45 percent) lagged behind peak adult population density by 3 weeks in 1983. Infections in Fannia spp, were rare in 1984 due to low rainfall and subsequent low adult densities. Infection prevalence was higher in male than female hosts, but was probably influenced by the shorter incubation period in males and the short holding period. Flies were not infected with E. muscae as larvae or while emerging from manure. Cool fall weather stimulated morning M. domestica aggregation on the south walls of the primary poultry house study site, where cadavers killed by E. muscae were most common. Flies likely were infected primarily by morning exposure to secondary conidia expelled from these structure surfaces. Possible management techniques to optimize E. muscae activity are discussed.

Autodissemination ofMetarhizium anisopliaeandBeauveria bassianainMusca domesticaL. Results in Less Oviposition and Short Gonotrophic Cycle

“…Natural infection by Beauveria bassiana and M. anisopliae already has been reported in M. domestica (Skovgaard and Steenberg 2002), and although autodissemination has been observed for E. muscae (Mullens et al 1987), this is the first study for both M. anisopliae and B. bassiana in the house fly. As expected, when 10 males were confined with 30 females, many were killed by either fungus (LT 50 ~ 3 days), together with most reduction in oviposition (66%) and gonotrophic cycle time (71%).…”

Application of Nested-PCR Technique to Resting Spores from the Entomophthora muscae Species Complex: Implications for Analyses of Host-Pathogen Population Interactions

“…The physiological host range is relatively broad within the E. muscae species complex, as demonstrated by the reports of laboratory transmission of E. muscae s. 1. across host families (Kramer and Steinkraus 1981, Steinkraus and Kramer 1987, Mullens 1989, Steenberg et al 2001 and even across insect orders (Eilenberg et al 1987). Our results show that such transmissions are unlikely to take place in the field.…”

“…The fungus Entomophthora muscae (Cohn) Fresenius sensu lato is a common pathogen on adults from several families of Diptera, Cyclorrhapha, such as Anthomyiidae (Wilding and Lauckner 1974, Carruthers et al 1985, Klingen et al 2000, Muscidae (Steinkraus et al 1993, Six and Mullens 1996, Keller et al 1999, Fanniidae (Mullens et al 1987), and Psilidae (Eilenberg and Philipsen 1988). Because many of these host species are pests, E. muscae s. 1. is a potential candidate for biological control of pest flies.…”

Evaluation of Beauveria bassiana and B. brongniartii strains and four wild-type fungal species against adults of Bactrocera oleae and Ceratitis capitata

“…However other higher fly species have been reported to suffer high infection levels caused by fungi from Entomophthorales. Entomophthora muscae infects several species e.g., the onion fly Delia antigua, the wheat bulb fly Delia coarctata (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), the carrot fly Chamaepsila rosae (Diptera: Psilidae) (Wilding and Lauckner, 1974;Carruthers et al, 1985;Eilenberg and Philipsen, 1988); it also infects flies associated with animal production, e.g., the house fly Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) and the lesser house fly Fannia canicularis (Diptera: Fanniidae) (Mullens et al, 1987;Mullens, 1989). The Hyphomycetes B. bassiana, M. anisopliae, and Tolypocladium cylindrosporum have been reported to be pathogenic to the house fly (Steinkraus et al, 1990;Barson et al, 1994;Watson et al, 1995Watson et al, , 1996.…”