Abstract

Fuscuropoda vegetans (De Geer) was compared with Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) as a potential biological control agent for the house fly, Musca domestica L. Adult F. vegetans did not prey upon house fly eggs because of inability to penetrate the egg chorion. Deutonymphs and both sexes of adults were predaceous only upon the 1st-instar larva of the house fly.

F. vegetans did not interfere with predation by M. muscaedomesticae. F. vegetans subsisted on 6 different foods, with the greatest reproduction occurring on a diet of ruptured house fly eggs and nematodes.

F. vegetans moves slowly and has poor olfactory perception. M. muscaedomesticae moves rapidly and has well-developed olfactory perception. F. vegetans adults are gregarious feeders.

The density of M. muscaedomesticae in poultry manure caged hens was maximum after 2–3 weeks of manure accumulation and declined slowly thereafter. Density of F. vegetans increased slowly, until after 5–6 weeks of manure accumulation it was the dominant or nearly dominant mite. M. muscaedomesticae was found primarily on the outermost layer and near the peak of the manure cone where fly eggs were usually accessible. F. vegetans was found in aggregations deeper within the manure cone where 1st-instar fly larvae were usually present.

This content is only available as a PDF.
You do not currently have access to this article.