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Influence ofOnthophagus gazella on hornfly,Haematobia irritans density in irrigated pastures

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Abstract

Haematobia irritans (L.) breeding in flood irrigated pastures of the lower Colorado Desert of southeastern California continues to remain unacceptably high during warm seasons (>1,000 adult flies per bovine head) despite the presence of moderately abundant populations ofOnthophagus gazella F. This study suggests that densities of > 40–70 adult beetles per dung pad and giving pronounced dung shredding activity, caused fly mortality of 38–56 %. The continued high abundance of adult horn flies on cattle suggests that at > 50% mortality, the pasture environment still produces sufficient flies to saturate cattle, although emigration might be reduced. Additional species of scarabs may be necessary to increase fly mortality. However, the dung drying activity of existingO. gazella significantly could interfere with resident staphylinid beetle breeding, which was significantly lower in pastures whereO. gazella reached densities of 40 per dung pad. Scarab beetle activity might also impede the introduction of superior predatory species for biological control.

Résumé

La multiplication d'Haematobia irritans (L.) dans les pâturages irrigués inondés du bas Colorado, désert sud-est de la Californie, continue à demeurer inacceptable durant les saisons chaudes (plus de 1 000 mouches adultes par tête de bovin) malgré la présence de populations moyennes d'Onthophagus gazella F. Cette étude suggère que des densités supérieures à 40/70 adultes de Scarabéide par bouse responsable d'une destruction prononcée de bouses, causaient une mortalité de 38 à 56% de mouches. La persistance d'une telle abondance de mouches adultes sur le bétail suggère qu'à plus de 50% de mortalité, l'environment des pâturages produit encore suffisamment de mouches pour saturer le bétail, bien que l'émigration puisse être réduite. Des espèces supplémentaires de Scarabéides peuvent être nécessaires pour augmenter la mortalité des mouches. Cependant, l'activité de dessication des boues due auxO. gazella existant pourrait interférer avec la multiplication des staphylinides résidents qui était significativement plus faibles dans les pâturages oùO. gazella atteignait des densités de 40 individus/bouse. L'activité des Scarabéides peut aussi entraver l'introduction d'espèces prédatrices supérieures pour la lutte biologique.

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  1. Department of Entomology, University of California, 92521, Riverside, CA

    E. F. Legner & R. W. Warkentin

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  1. E. F. Legner
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  2. R. W. Warkentin
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Legner, E.F., Warkentin, R.W. Influence ofOnthophagus gazella on hornfly,Haematobia irritans density in irrigated pastures. Entomophaga 36, 547–553 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02374437

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