How to get rid of fly larvae: the most effective methods

What else are flies for?

During the First World War, doctors noticed one feature - the larvae ate rotting tissue in the wounds of patients, preventing the proliferation of pathogenic microflora.
The larvae secrete a special secretion, which is a powerful antibiotic. This allows maggots to exist freely in an aggressive environment, and this feature is used by doctors to treat severe wounds that are resistant to antibiotics. Maggots are specially raised under sterile conditions. The fly's compound eye became the basis for the development of the modern camera. The unique camera takes more than 1 thousand frames at a time, after pressing the shoot button. Body structure and flight abilities formed the basis for the creation of many designs in aviation. Research continues, but it is not completely clear how a fly sits on the ceiling upside down, takes off without preliminary acceleration, hangs in the air, and turns off one or the other wing during the flight. Flies are beneficial by their presence because they provide numerous aspects for study. The flight of a fly and the reaction of an insect are compared to a flying saucer - a UFO.

Blow flies have attractive colors. Their body shimmers with a beautiful green, blue, gray with a metallic tint. In the wild, it is an object for aesthetic pleasure, if you do not touch it with your hands.

Scientific discoveries and technical discoveries

While studying the body structure of flies, scientists became interested in some of their interesting features, which they were able to use in the design of technical devices:

• The unique structure of the fly's eyes, consisting of thousands of 6-sided miniature lenses, in which the image is obtained by summing it in several projections, contributed to the creation of a new camera that can immediately take 1300 pictures of an object (its lens consists of 1327 minilenses), this invention is used in modern computers that perform high-precision calculations;
• the structure of fly eyes is also used to create lattice solar panels that can generate large amounts of electricity;
• aviation engineers, based on the structure of fly wings and halteres, which allow them to become “masters of aerobatics” among all flying insects and birds, were able to create instruments for controlling flights in aircraft, as well as measuring the speed of rockets and airliners;
• By studying the hearing capabilities of flies and the structure of their eardrums, biologists came to the conclusion that the insect is able to determine the source of sound with high accuracy - this will help in improving and developing new designs for hearing aids and microphones;
• research by geneticists of one of the species of vinegar flies helped decipher its gene code and establish a greater degree of identity with the human one, which is planned to be used in the creation of drugs for kidney diseases and leukemia;
• Scientists' plans for the future are to use the physiological characteristics of flies to detect drugs and explosives.

Thus, the participation of mosquitoes and flies in the natural ecosystem brings more benefit than harm. And those who are afraid of being harmed by them can be advised to strictly observe the rules of hygiene in residential premises: regularly clean, throw out garbage on time, destroy incoming pests using available modern methods. This will help reduce the likelihood of harm from any flying insects.

Prevention

Of course, it is always easier to prevent a problem than to fix it. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain basic sanitary and hygienic conditions:

• dispose of household waste in the house in a timely manner;
• do not leave uncovered food on the table;
• place a mosquito net on the windows;
• Clean pet pens regularly;
• examine animals for wounds to avoid infection with green fly larvae;
• treat manure heaps with biothermal agents;
• promptly dispose of the corpses of dead animals, as well as pests such as rats, moles and others;
• Disinfect latrines with insecticides.

Tansy essential oil repels flies, causing paralysis of their limbs. Bouquets of these flowers, hung in a livestock room or standing in a vase in an apartment, will help get rid of annoying flies for a long time.

Harm and benefits of dung flies

Predatory insects do not cause direct harm to humans. Despite the possible infection of a fly with bacteria, it very rarely enters a person’s house and will try to leave it quickly. Saprophagous larvae control the number of other larvae through their activity. Farmers note that a large number of flies in the barn begin to bother their domestic animals, crawling into their eyes and ears.

Phytophagous larvae cause damage to plants in which they are active. But serious damage to green spaces by caterpillars is rarely observed. When there is a sharp increase in the number of insects in a certain area, farmers use insecticides and other means to combat them

Are dung flies harmful?

The dung fly itself is not a pest for humans. Although it crawls through manure, it rarely flies into homes, so it does not have the opportunity to spread pathogenic bacteria. The insect also does not pose a threat to animals.

But sometimes there are too many flies, and they can begin to bother the animals, getting into their eyes and ears. That’s when farmers have a question about how to reduce the number of annoying insects.

In addition, leaf miner larvae are a serious problem for gardeners, as they damage plant leaves by digging tunnels through them to move around.

Moose fly protection

To protect yourself from a deer bloodsucker bite while in a wooded area, you should carefully consider your equipment. It may include the following items:

• overalls or a special suit with a hood, which has a tight-fitting collar and cuffs on the legs and sleeves;
• mosquito net.

It is best to wear plain clothes, as it is easier to detect the pest on them. Repellents applied to the hands, face, neck, and outer clothing will repel the insatiable bloodsucker.

Moose fly protection

When going into the forest, you need to take a first aid kit with you, as well as devices for removing moose flies. The insect has a specific body structure, so conventional physical methods of fighting it do not give the desired result. It is advisable to remove an elk tick immediately after feeling the bite. To do this, you can use the following techniques:

• Drip vegetable oil onto the stick or treat it with any greasy product. The lack of oxygen will force the moose fly to escape from the wound.
• Pass a strong thread under the abdomen, secure it with a knot and carefully pull out the parasite, swinging it from side to side.
• Grab the moose fly with tweezers and twist it counterclockwise.

After the manipulation, the wound should be thoroughly disinfected. The victim should take an antihistamine and, upon returning home, go to a medical facility for additional advice. Knowing how to get rid of moose flies can help you avoid complications.

First aid for burner bites

Harmful insects most often choose helpless victims among people - small children, disabled people, sleeping people. They usually bite on the legs. Due to the poisonous saliva injected into the wound, a burning sensation and swelling appears.

The injured person must be given first aid:

• Cool the affected area by applying ice.
• Treat the wound with an antiseptic.
• Soda lotions are recommended to relieve itching.
• People prone to allergies should be given an antihistamine.
• If a day or two after the bite the victim feels unwell, he should go to the hospital. Possible infection.

Taxonomy[ | code]

Scathophagidae, together with flies from the families Fanniidae, Muscidae and Anthomyiidae, constitute the superfamily Muscoidea within Calyptratae. The position of the Scathophagidae within Muscoidea is debated and they are considered either (i) as the sister group to the Anthomyiidae (Bernasconi et al. 2000a), or (ii) as the sister group to all other Muscoidea (Mcalpin & Wood 1989), or (iii) as a subclade within subfamily rank within Muscidae or Anthomyiidae (Hackman 1956; Vockeroth 1956, 1965, 1989).

Classification | code

There are 420 species from 58 genera. Five genera are classified into the subfamily Delininae ( Americina, Delina, Leptopa, Mirekiana, Micropselapha

).

• Acanthocnema
• Acerocnema
• Aceronema
• Allomyella
• Amaurosoma
• Americina
• Bostrichopyga
• Bucephalina
• Cerastinostoma
• Ceratinostoma
• Chaetosa
• Cleigastra
• Cochliarium
• Conisternum
• Cordilura
• Cordylurella
• Cosmetopus
• Delina
• Ernoneura
• Eupteromyia
• Gimnomera
• Gonarcticus
• Gonatherus
• Gymnomera
• Hexamitocera
• Huckettia
• Hydromyza
• Jezekia
• Langechristia
• Leptopa
• Megaphthalma
• Megaphthalmoides
• Mirekiana
• Milania
  .
• Microprosopa
• Micropselapha
• Miroslava
• Mixocordylura
• Nanna
• Neochirosia
• Neorthacheta
• Norellia
• Norellisoma
• Okeniella
• Orchidophaga
• Orthacheta
• Paracosmetopus
• Parallelomma
• Phrosia
• Plethochaeta
• Pleurochaetella
• Pogonota
• Sargella
• Scathophaga
• Scatogera
• Spathephilus
• Spaziphora
• Staegeria
• Suwaia
• Trichopalpus

Notes

1. Life of animals. Volume 3. Arthropods: trilobites, chelicerates, trachea-breathers. Onychophora / ed. M. S. Gilyarova, F. N. Pravdina, ch. ed. V. E. Sokolov. — 2nd ed. - M.: Education, 1984. - P. 411. - 463 p.
2. ↑
3. Narchuk E.P.
   Key to the families of dipteran insects (Insecta: Diptera) of the fauna of Russia and neighboring countries (with a brief overview of the families of the world fauna). - St. Petersburg: Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2003. - 252 p. — ISBN 5–98092–004–8.
4. ↑
5. ↑
6. ↑
7. Mamaev B. M., Medvedev L. N. and Pravdin F. N.
   Key to insects of the European part of the USSR. - M.: "Enlightenment", 1976. - P. 248-284. — 304 p.
8. Bisby FA, ​​Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D., Paglinawan LE, Bailly N., Kirk PM, Bourgoin T., Baillargeon G., Ouvrard D. (ed.).
   (English).
   Species 2000 & ITIS Catalog of Life: 2011 Annual Checklist
   (24 September 2012). Retrieved August 2, 2022.

Anatomy of a fly - external structure

The general plan of the structure of dipterans, the skeleton of a fly is the same as that of other insects - head, chest, abdomen. The head contains the mouthparts, antennae, and eyes. The chest consists of three segments, with a pair of transparent wings, and three pairs of legs. The space in the chest is filled with powerful muscles. The abdomen includes most of the digestive organs and the reproductive system.

Fly head

Includes the organs of vision, nutrition, and hearing.

• Oral apparatus. Regardless of the differences in nutrition of many species of flies, their oral apparatus is represented by a proboscis of a sucking, licking type. A pair of extended blades of the upper and lower lips come into contact with food. The fly's jaws are powerful. Numerous tubules converge in the fly's proboscis, at its central point. The mouthparts of a fly that feeds on blood are additionally equipped with hard, sharp scales that serve as teeth and help pierce the skin of animals and humans. The liquid is drawn into the head using a pharyngeal pump.
• The eyes occupy most of the head. They form a complex system, which was taken as the basis for the development of a modern photo camera. They consist of many simple eyes that look like a faceted mesh from the outside. The insect receives a comprehensive but mosaic image of objects. Each eye includes several hundred or thousands of facets. The housefly has about 4 thousand of them. Many species have 3 simple eyes located on the crown of the head. This structure allows you to instantly capture movement, but does not provide a complete picture of the image.
• Mustache. A kind of antenna serves as a landmark. They help to catch odors and determine the direction of movement. In the process of evolution they changed, there are differences in males and females.

The structure of a fly's head

Breast

Consists of three segments - prothorax, midthorax, metathorax. The bones of the fly and the main part of the muscles provide flight, so the middle part is the most developed. How many legs does a fly have? 3 pairs. Each consists of 5 parts and has its own powerful muscles. The structure of the fly's paws ends with claws and suction cups, which allow the insect to stay on a vertical, horizontal surface and even upside down. When walking, the soft pads compress and secrete a sticky secretion. This feature helps flies to hang on and move freely on window glass and smooth surfaces.

Wings of a fly

The upper ones are well developed, transparent, membranous. The posterior pair is deformed into appendages - halteres. They maintain balance in flight, allow them to hover in the air, and also make a buzzing sound. Thin wings are reinforced with cylindrical veins.

Abdomen

It has a cylindrical shape, elongated, consists of 10 segments, includes the organs of the fly responsible for reproduction, respiration, nutrition and other important functions. The elastic chitinous cover expands as food arrives during pregnancy. Therefore, the weight of the fly varies depending on these conditions.

The face of a fly can be easily seen under a microscope, but even when carefully examined with the naked eye, one can see an elongated mouthparts and large eyes of green, red, yellow, brown, and blue. The ears of a fly are located on different parts of the body and help to detect air vibrations and ultrasound.

Structure of a fly

Internal structure

The characteristics of the insect include its internal structure. Many people are interested in how a fly breathes and whether it can think.

Reproductive system

The genital organs are located in the abdomen. Like other living creatures, they consist of ducts, accessory glands, eggs or testes, depending on the gender of the insect.

External appendages vary depending on the species of Diptera. Flies lay from 60 to 160 eggs. Some species of winged pests are viviparous. They give birth to maggots.

Digestive system

The abdomen contains most of the digestive organs:

• water tubules;
• intestines;
• goiter.

In fact, the insect lacks a digestive organ. Food is digested before it enters the abdomen. The insect secretes secretions while absorbing food. She digests the “food”.

Other organs

Insects do not have such complex systems as humans. The brain helps coordinate movement. In this case, an organ such as the reflex arc is responsible for reflexes. The brain contains several thousand neurons.

Important: the fly has no intelligence and memory only retains information for the last 3 seconds.

The insect's body contains 10 pairs of spiracles that allow the pest to breathe. Oxygen enters each organ through its own spiracle.

Description of the insect

The largest fly in the world is considered Gauromydas heros, or as it is also called, the fighter. Externally, the dipteran resembles a huge black wasp. The insect reaches 60 mm. In this case, the wingspan is 120 mm. Body color ranges from dark brown to black. There is an orange belt between the chest and elongated abdomen.

The fighter fly, like other representatives of dipterans, has large compound eyes of a dark shade. On the back of the insect there are large wings with a characteristic pattern. Despite their transparency, they have a light brown tint.

The life cycle of a giant fly consists of 4 stages:

• eggs;
• larvae;
• pupae;
• adult.

It is difficult to say exactly how many eggs the fly lays, since it is still being studied. It is known that larvae are most often found in anthills. They feed on insects that hunt for ant meal.

The female feeds only at the larval stage. The insect collects a sufficient amount of nutrients to subsequently produce new offspring. As for the males, they feed only on nectar.

Important: despite its enormous size, the “giant” is capable of developing great speed and when colliding with a person, a bruise remains on the skin

Reproduction and development stages

For mating, adult dung beetles choose rooms or places where there is an abundance of manure - a barn, a pigsty. Males organize competitions to see who can impregnate the female first. After mating, she lays her eggs in a pile of manure, where they are warm and protected for 24 hours. The saprophagous larvae that are born continue to live in this organic fertilizer, but they feed on the larvae of other insects in the neighborhood.

Interesting!

The dung fly prefers to raise its offspring in the waste products of pigs. Their manure retains its heat and soft consistency longer.

Dung fly

Some species of dung beetles lay eggs on the stems of plants and algae. Most often, a dung female chooses the following plants for her offspring:

• sorrel;
• reed;
• rye;
• lilies and others.

The emerging larvae are called phytophages. They bite into the leaves and make internal passages in them, feeding on the juicy pulp. After a few days, the fed caterpillars turn into pupae and freeze in this state. An adult will soon emerge from them.

Appearance

Insects of medium and large sizes. Body length is from 2 to 5.5 cm. The wingspan of the largest varieties is up to 12 cm.

The head is short and wide. In many species it appears flattened in front. The eyes are widely spaced and bulging. On the crown there are 3 simple eyes forming a triangle. The antennae are short and consist of 7 segments. The mouthparts are piercing-sucking type. With their proboscis, cicadas pierce leaves and young shoots of plants to drink juice.

The photo of the cicada “fly” clearly shows why these insects are considered dipterous. The wings of most cicadas are transparent, but the front ones are much longer than the back ones. In a quiet position, the first pair completely covers the back one. The manner of folding their wings is different from that of flies. The wings of cicadas in a calm position are folded into a “house”; in flies, the plates are parallel to each other and are in a horizontal plane.

cicada fly

But the paws immediately reveal the difference between a cicada and a fly. The imago does not dig in the ground, but even its front legs are quite powerful. The femurs on the first pair are thickened, armed with spines below. Tibia are cylindrical. The middle pair of legs has wide and short hips. And only the third rear pair looks like the legs of a fly.

The abdomen is usually massive. In the female it ends with an ovipositor, in males it ends with a copulatory organ.

The timbal organs are located at the bottom of the back of the chest. They are located behind the last pair of paws and are covered with large semicircular scales.

The timbal apparatus has a complex structure:

• median cavity;
• 2 side.

In the middle cavity there are 2 anterior folded membranes and two smooth and shiny posterior ones (speculi). On the inner wall of the lateral cavities there is an eardrum. A muscle is attached to it, causing the membrane to vibrate and produce the sound characteristic of a cicada “fly”. The middle cavity serves as a resonator, enhancing the sound of the “song”.

The coloring of most species is protective: the color of tree bark. But there are very bright representatives: the tropical royal cicada has a rich green body. Although this coloring is also protective: it matches the color of plants in the jungle.

What does a fly look like?

Everyone probably knows what this insect looks like, but it’s still worth looking at the presented photos of various flies.

The length of its body ranges from a millimeter level to two cm. The hairy body of the fly has two wings with membranes, a fairly voluminous head and a belly with three pairs of legs.

The mouth is designed like a proboscis that sucks in liquid food. The fly's legs have fairly developed sharp segments and sticky pads that allow it to stay upside down on any surface.

The insect's eyes are designed in a particularly unique way; they contain thousands of hexagonal crystals, which allows the fly to simultaneously see what is happening from absolutely any direction (even the background), that is, it has a circular field of vision. Whiskers are capable of detecting and recognizing many different scents.

Variety of species

In addition to the usual housefly, there are many other types of flies: field flies, fruit flies, dung flies, flies, tsetse flies, silver flies, etc. These insects are distinguished by great diversity in appearance, feeding habits, behavior and degree of danger to people and animals. Based on such diversity of species, the question arises, what are flies for? After all, in nature nothing exists for nothing, but necessarily has some kind of beneficial or harmful effect.

The main diet of flies consists of:

• food waste that remains after a person;
• mucous secretions and excrement excreted by animals and humans;
• blood of mammals;
• vegetable juices.

Flies spend almost their entire lives searching for food, often visiting toilets and contaminated places where rotting animal carcasses or spoiled fruits lie. Then flying into apartments through windows and doors, they land on food and any surfaces in the kitchen and rooms, carrying infection and harmful bacteria on their paws. Therefore, most people consider them carriers of various diseases and dangerous infections.

Some types of flies that feed on the blood of animals (tsetse, zhigalka, etc.) are capable of spreading deadly diseases (anthrax, trypanosomiasis, etc.) when they bite and pierce the skin. However, these insects can cause more than just harm to people and animals. Numerous studies have shown that flies are beneficial in nature.

Why is it dangerous for humans?

Diseases transmitted by the zhigalka
Like any “reusable” bloodsucker, the zhigalka is capable of transmitting dangerous diseases to humans:

• relapsing fever;
• tularemia;
• trypanosomiasis;
• ehrlichiosis;
• anthrax.

Flies often land on decaying carrion, catching pathogenic bacteria on their legs and proboscis. In this case, when feeding on blood, they can introduce bacteria into the wound. But the risk of sepsis in this case is minimal. The human body is able to resist a small number of pathogenic bacteria. Microorganisms brought from carrion are dangerous only to people with a dysfunctional immune system.

Classification of flies by nutrition

Lifestyle shapes nutritional habits. There are several types:

• Afagi. Adults do not feed and live no more than 14 days. The larvae develop and parasitize on humans and animals. A striking representative of aphages are gadflies.
• Nectarophages. Adults feed on plant juices, droppings, and excrement. The larvae develop in a liquid medium, which serves as food for them. Obligate parasites of animals, rarely found on humans. Wohlfart's fly.
• Coprophagous. Adults and larvae feed on excrement. Additional food is plant juices. This species includes pasture flies of the Muscidae family.
• Coprophagous facultative. Maggots develop in excrement, manure, rotten plants, and slops. Adults eat human food. The representative of the species is the house fly.
• Hematophages are obligate. Mature insects feed on blood. The larvae develop in manure, feces, decaying remains of plants, corpses, and feed on the same. This includes the Autumn Zhigalka, which, with the onset of cold weather, makes its way into the house, displacing its indoor relatives.
• Hematophagous facultative. For sexually mature individuals, food consists of secretions from mucous membranes, sweat, and blood protruding from wounds. They cannot bite themselves; their mouthparts are not suitable for this. Additional food is excrement. Maggots also develop there. This species includes the Market fly.
• Necrophages are facultative. Adults feed on decomposing corpse tissue, meat, food waste, juices, and excrement. In most cases, larvae develop in meat. Capable of parasitizing wounds of animals and humans. A striking representative of this species are blowflies - green, blue, gray.
• Polyphages. The diet is very diverse - excrement, body secretions, blood, food waste of animal and plant origin. The larvae adapt to any environment where there is the possibility of feeding. Houseflies are called polyphages.

Flies that are beneficial: do they exist?

Certainly. Many flies destroy spoiled food, eat carrion, and dispose of garbage. They are sanitary insects. Without them, humanity would be mired in decay and stench. Even synanthropic flies, the same ones that live in close proximity to humans, are not all harmful. And, if you don’t take into account horse flies, horse flies and common household parasites, there are beneficial species among them.

Sewers are the best place for insects to live. Fly larvae are hard at work here, destroying waste products. Considering that feces are the source of many infections, this is useful and necessary work. That is why it cannot be said that the dung fly is a useless pest.

Blue blowfly

Now about carrion flies, or blow flies. There are a lot of them. In addition to the well-known green fly, there is a blue meat fly and a striped fly (also known as a gray meat fly). Most are viviparous, laying maggots directly into dead flesh. They are considered orderlies. By the way, the gray one is a big fly; it is larger than many of its relatives and immediately catches your eye.

hoverfly

There are also fly predators. For example, ktyr is a fly that destroys mosquitoes and midges. It is not at all dangerous for humans, but small gnats noticeably suffer from this assistant. The hoverfly is a cute creature, not similar in appearance to its relatives. It has very predatory larvae that feed on small soft insects, mainly aphids. Adults resemble wasps in appearance. The photo shows how attractive hoverflies are. Close to them is the wasp fly.

Beekeeper

The bee-eater is no less attractive. It is related to hoverflies, but not predatory. The fly feeds on nectar and is a pollinator. But the beautiful, yellow bee can also be harmful: if its larva gets into the human intestines, it will become a parasite.

Spanish fly - a poisonous beetle

But what about the Spanish fly, which many have heard about. The insect has its own interesting history. It is believed to cause strong sexual arousal. Surprisingly, the Spanish fly has nothing in common with flies. This is a beetle, and it has a very beautiful emerald, iridescent color. The Spanish fly belongs to the blister family: when attacked, it secretes a liquid that greatly irritates the surface tissues. The insect smells like mice. On its basis, the drug “Spanish Fly” is produced, which is still considered an aphrodisiac. The product was also used to enhance potency, but it turned out that it had a bad effect on the kidneys and liver. Currently, Spanish Fly is one of the most famous drugs that cause sexual desire.

Cicada

There are a huge variety of flies, and they are all different. We talked about only a few species, including the melon fly, African fly, cabbage fly, zhigalka and others. There is also an insect called the cicada, which is often confused with the heroine of the story. And it’s clear why. The cicada looks like a fly, although in fact it is not one. This is a beautiful, large insect that can sing. The chirping of the cicada can be heard both at night and during the day. She prefers hot climates. Belongs to the order Hemiptera. And although the cicada resembles a fly, it leads a completely different lifestyle.

Black soldier fly

In addition to those listed, there are many more types of insects. For example, Swedish fly, red fly, mangrove fly, earth flies, black soldier fly and others. These constant, close companions of man have left their mark even in culture: the phraseological unit “white flies”, denoting falling snowflakes, is directly related to insects and is quite poetic. We think it’s worth reconsidering your squeamish attitude and getting to know them better. And perhaps you will discover a lot of interesting things.

Biology

Adults of calliphorid flies are, as a rule, brightly colored green or blue with a metallic tint; less often dark gray with brown.

Typically carrion flies that develop on corpses are representatives of the main genera of the family - green carrion flies (Lucilia) and blue carrion flies (Cynomya, Calliphora). Their females require a significant amount of protein (up to 800 mcg) to develop eggs. Having found carrion (sometimes the fly has to fly up to 20 km to do this), females lay white eggs measuring 1.5x0.4 mm - 150-200 eggs at a time. In total, a female can lay up to 2000 eggs in her life. For the larvae to hatch, it takes from 12 hours to 1-2 days (depending on the ambient temperature). Digestion in larvae is extraintestinal - they absorb food liquefied by their proteolytic enzymes.

There are two types of carrion fly larvae: smooth and “hairy”. The first are exclusively scavengers; the latter are predominantly active predators, feeding on smooth larvae, and appear on carrion later than the former.

The larvae go through three moults and then pupate. At room temperature (approx. 30 °C), the black carrion fly Phormia regina transforms from egg to pupa in 6-11 days. The larva burrows into the ground and, if the weather is favorable, emerges from the puparium after 14 days as an adult insect. Because the life cycle of carrion flies is well understood, they are used in forensic science to determine the time of death.

In addition to carrion, many species of carrion flies develop on the excrement of humans and animals. It is not uncommon for the same species to develop both on carrion and in feces. Feeding on decaying meat has created the preconditions for a number of species of carrion flies to transition to parasitism on living beings: pollen flies (Pollenia), for example, retain the ability to develop in meat, but their larvae are often found in the body of earthworms, which they gradually eat. There are species that parasitize snails and live in termite mounds and anthills. Parasitic carrion flies can develop in necrotic tissues and cause myiases in animals and humans. Thus, the damage caused to the Australian sheep industry by the fly Lucilia cuprina, which parasitizes sheep, is estimated at 170 million US dollars annually.

Adult carrion flies sometimes become pollinators of flowers, to which they are attracted by a strong smell, similar to the smell of rotting meat (like pawpaw).

Sprout fly - methods of destroying pest larvae

Low similarity between cucumber and melon seeds is not always associated with poor quality of seed material. The reason may be hidden in the soil - it is a sprout fly, or rather its larvae.

The pest emerges from the cocoon in the spring and feeds on seeds and sprouts of vegetables. The larvae, 1-7 m in size, gnaw out grooves and holes in the seeds and spoil the seedlings. The tender sprout rots and dies. During the warm season, up to four generations of germ flies are replaced.

The pest lives in Europe, Central Asia, Siberia, and North America.

Description of the pest

The fly's body is divided into three parts: head, thorax and abdomen. The color of the insect is yellow-gray; there are three dark longitudinal stripes on the mesonotum. The abdomen is gray. The body is completely covered with hairs.

The eyes are large and occupy almost the entire surface of the head. On the forehead there are antennae, which are the organs of smell.

The sprout fly belongs to the order Diptera, representatives of this group use the front wings for flight, the hind wings have turned into halteres - an organ for balancing

Sprout fly

Reproduction of sprout fly

The pest reproduces in different sexes; the difference between the structure of males and females is not noticeable at first glance. Distinctive features are hidden on the legs; long bristles grow on the hind legs and thighs. The body size of flies is 3-6 mm.

In warm regions they fly out of the ground in mid-April, in temperate zones - in the second or third ten days of May. After mating, the female lays eggs in the soil. She prefers moist soil fertilized with manure. The eggs are white, oblong, with a relief pattern.

Their length is about 1 mm, the number is 50-60 pieces. Embryo development takes from 3 to 10 days.

Sprout fly eggs

The sprout fly prefers to breed on cucumbers. The larvae climb into the stem of the plant, weakening it. At birth, their length is 1-2 mm, the color is transparent. After a few days the larvae turn white.

Depending on conditions and nutrition, their development takes 10-30 days. Before pupation, it becomes thick and fleshy, growing up to 7 mm. The head is practically absent; two dark mouth hooks are visible in the narrow anterior part of the body.

Next, the larva turns into a pupa, while it remains in a hard larval skin called the puparium. This is a brown-yellow oval cocoon 5 mm long. In summer, the adult appears after 2 weeks.

If the clutch is made in the fall, it remains in the cocoon until spring. The insect burrows 10 cm into the soil and experiences a cold period there. When the air warms up to +100, the imago will tear the puparium along the front seam and escape into the wild.

The second generation flies in June, and the third in July.

Damage to seed by larva

How to deal with germ fly

From the moment they emerge from the egg, the larvae are very active; they crawl considerable distances in search of seeds and shoots. Having discovered them, they gnaw out the cotyledons. Up to 30 larvae were found in beans or legumes.

Damaged plants are easily infected with pathogenic fungi and infections. Insects cause complete or partial damage. If the seed does not die, a weak plant with little fruiting will sprout from it.

Sprout fly on cucumber

Measures to combat the germ fly include several areas:

Agrotechnical measures

To prevent the spread of pests, several rules must be followed:

1. Promptly remove plant remains in the fall; they are a habitat for garden pests.
2. Fly larvae overwinter at shallow depths; plowing the soil is recommended to exterminate them. During the spring-summer season, you will need to cultivate the soil an additional 2-3 times. This will help you reach the eggs and leave them to dry in the sun.
3. When applying manure to fertilize the soil, it should not be left on the surface. The specific smell attracts adult germ flies, which lay eggs nearby. It is better to apply organic fertilizers during deep digging.
4. Plant the seeds before the first generation of hungry larvae emerge after wintering.
5. It is recommended to plant cucumbers not as seeds, but as seedlings. The grown plant is able to survive the attack of pests. It is less prone to rotting and drying out.

Biological agents

The sprout fly has natural enemies that help fight it. The number of the pest at any stage can be reduced by predatory aleohara beetles and ground beetles. Ichneumopods from the family Eucoilidae parasitize fly larvae. Nematodes Rhabditidae penetrate into the cocoon.

Chemicals

When there are a large number of pests, mechanical actions are not enough. It is recommended to treat the seed before planting. For this purpose, insecticidal preparations are used. One of them, Iskra, is safe for plants, but lethal for pests. Once in the body of insects, it paralyzes them and causes death.

For cucumbers grown in open ground, preparations with the active ingredient malathion are recommended - “Karbofos”, “Funanon”. These are organophosphorus compounds of contact and intestinal action. Spraying with them is carried out during the growing season.

Timely control of the sprout fly, which thins out the seedlings, will be the key to a good harvest.

Source: https://BeetleStop.ru/rostkovaya-muha/

Appearance

In the photo, burner flies are almost indistinguishable from ordinary house flies. This is explained by the fact that both species are very similar in morphology and biology. The average body length of this type of fly is 7 mm. The zhigalka is gray in color with dark stripes on the chest and spots on the belly. The yellowish color of the lower part of the abdomen, like that of a housefly, is absent in the zhigalka.

Like the housefly, males and females can be distinguished by the distance between the eyes and the size of the insect. The female has wider eyes and is larger.

The burner also has some differences:

• in a calm state, the wings of the burner are spaced wider;
• the proboscis is directed forward like the proboscis of a tsetse fly.

The proboscis is adapted for feeding with blood and has chitinous “teeth” at the end to penetrate blood vessels and sucking plates for feeding. Both the female and the male feed on blood.

Fly fly

Report on flies (22 macro photos)

Dedicated to our neighbors on displays and warm keyboards...)

Flies are a class of insects , order Diptera , phylum arthropods . Widely distributed in all parts of the world. More than 75 thousand different species of flies are known.

Synanthropic fly species are of great epidemiological and epizootic importance.

These include, first of all, representatives of the families Muscidae - true flies, Calliphoridae - blue, green blowflies, Sarcophagidae - gray blowflies, Scatophagidae - dung flies, etc.

22 more photos...

Photo © Mikesi

The body (2-15 mm long) is dark, or with a metallic sheen (blue or green), less often yellow, covered with hairs and setae.

Photo © johnhallmen

The eyes of a fly consist of approximately 4 thousand hexagonal lenses - they occupy almost the entire area of ​​​​the fly's head.
With their help, a fly can simultaneously look in several directions and distinguish colors, including ultraviolet light, which is inaccessible to human vision. Photo © johnhallmen
The point images perceived by each lens are combined into a single picture, like a mosaic.
True, the image turns out to be somewhat blurry, but the speed of perception is very high. Compound eyes detect objects with amazing precision during flight. Flying at a speed of 5 m/s, the fly clearly distinguishes objects smaller than 1.5 cm. In addition, the eyes of the fly determine the speed of a moving object with amazing accuracy: it consistently “detects” it with individual facet eyes and immediately translates it into the overall picture of a large eyes. This technique allowed scientists to create a device for accurately determining the speed of supersonic aircraft; It was called that way - “the eye of a fly.” Photo © johnhallmen
On the fly's head there are many bristles sticking up, you can call this the insect's alarm system.
Due to their high sensitivity to various types of vibrations, the bristles promptly warn of impending danger. Photo © Casseris
The life of a fly, with the exception of the breeding season, is almost entirely devoted to the search for food.
The fly feeds on liquid food, sucking it through the proboscis mouth located in front of the head. The fly also has teeth, they are very tiny, they are located on the same proboscis. Their main task is to separate food particles. Since solid food is not suitable for the fly, it first moistens it with liquid regurgitated through the proboscis. Photo © Casseris
The fly is not picky about food, eats the same things as humans, flies also feed on plant juice, and does not disdain various sewage, decomposing organic matter, manure, feces;
some are predators; Some species are bloodsuckers. Photo © jciv
Flies are very maneuverable.
The suction cups located on the legs make almost any surface accessible to it. The flight of a fly can be compared to the flight of an ace pilot performing aerobatic maneuvers. Photo © Casseris
The fly, like a super-helicopter, can take off and land without a run, spin in the air in one place, and fly backwards.
In one second, a fly flaps its wings 200 times. At the same time, the rear pair of wings, the halteres, help the fly maintain balance while performing any dizzying pirouette and avoid falling. Photo © Timmay D
All types of flies are very prolific.
In one season, one pair of flies produces a million offspring. Photo © jciv The process of reproduction in flies, like in other insects, occurs in several stages: egg - larva - pupa - adult insect .
Photo © johnhallmen

The female lays eggs on food products, accumulations of rotting organic matter, and animal and bird droppings.
Female house flies, blue, green and gray blowflies, can lay eggs on wounds of animals and humans. The development period of the larvae is determined by the type of fly, the temperature and humidity of the substrate and ranges from 3 to 30 days. Photo © tobyjug5
Oviposition usually consists of a hundred or more eggs.
After a day, the larvae are born, and they will remain in this state for a week. All this time, manure and the remains of a dead animal will be both a home and a source of food for them. Before they pupate, the larvae burrow into the ground. It will take another week for the larva inside each cocoon to develop into an adult fly. Using a special part of the head, the ptilinum, the fly makes a hole in one of the ends of the cocoon and comes out. Then she needs time for her body and wings to become solid so she can fly. Photo © Mikesi
Despite the fact that flies are considered to be harmful and annoying insects, some of them destroy the oviposition of locusts - a threat to all agricultural crops.
For example, the speedfly lays eggs in the larvae of harmful insects, thereby also saving the future harvest from death. The larvae of the hoverfly, the flower fly, are the age-old enemies of aphids. In addition, flower flies pollinate flowers; due to their color, they can easily be confused with bees or wasps. Photo © Casseris
Most flies are carriers of bacterial, parasitic and viral diseases.
A lover of human food, the fly does not disdain waste, so on its legs and proboscis you can easily find about 1 million dangerous bacteria. Scientists found 63 types of microorganisms in the fly's tracks, about 30 of which were causative agents of 4 different diseases, including dysentery and typhoid fever. Photo © Casseris
Among the blood-sucking species, the most dangerous are tsetse flies, or glossins, which are not found in our country, the males and females of which are carriers of infectious diseases.

Photo © Casseris

Riddle: He flies everywhere all day, and gets everyone very tired. (ahuM)

Photo © Thierry

Riddle: Who walks above us upside down - is not afraid, is not afraid of falling, flies all day, gets bored of everyone?
Photo © Timmay D
Riddle: How I hum on a hot day, Any ear could hear.
I fly into every house, everyone knows me! I am ... Photo © johnhallmen
Poems about a fly: A fly sat on the window And sat there, impudent.
In general, I don’t care, I treat it normally. It will sit and fly away, nothing will happen. There is a beautiful view from the window, and there she is, staring at the fly in the dew drops. Photo © johnhallmen

Nutrition method

In our usual understanding of this word, burners do not bite. They scrape off the top layer of the epidermis with their proboscis, causing blood to appear. To prevent the blood from clotting, the burner releases poisonous saliva onto the scraping, the action of which leads to severe irritation.

Females need blood to complete the reproductive cycle. A hungry zhigalka will not be able to lay eggs. The desire to reproduce is the reason why this type of fly is especially biting in the fall.

Zhigalkas can overwinter at any stage of development, but already at temperatures below +8°C they hibernate. Before wintering, it is advisable for the female to have time to lay eggs. In the southern regions, at high air temperatures, this type of fly can breed all year round.

Fighting bloodsuckers

To protect yourself from a specific insect, you must adhere to basic preventive rules:

• Treat the area adjacent to the house with insecticidal preparations that are safe for people, indoor plants and pets. For this purpose, special devices are used that break down the poison into cold steam.
• If a flat fly is found in an apartment, you can get rid of it using repellents or professional control by spraying carbon dioxide, the liquid fraction of which has a temperature of -50°C.
• Regularly mow tall and dense thickets of grass.
• Spray lawns and trees with water with additives of crushed garlic and alcohol or decoctions of tansy and wormwood.
• Use strong repellents containing DET or perform water treatments with tar soap foam.

All this will become a reliable barrier for moose flies and protect people and animals from dangerous bites.

Hoverfly or syrphid

Very similar to a wasp. In the summer, you can see such a fly hovering over flowering plants, or near a cluster of garden aphids.

This specimen is safe for humans. It feeds on the nectar of inflorescences and spider mites. The buzzing of a fly resembles the sound of rushing water, which is why it got its beautiful name.

About reproduction

It is almost impossible to find insects in human housing due to the lack of suitable food there. But quite often “furry insects” can be found in premises where livestock are kept. Dung beetles flock there to find a mate: the male waits for his partner on the dung heap. Females also lay eggs in livestock manure, from which larvae emerge within 24 hours.

Dung flies give the greatest preference to the manure of pigs and milk-fed calves, since their feces, unlike horse feces, retain the required temperature longer. Having laid eggs, the females go to the world of flowering plants to feast on their next victim. And the emerging larvae continue to develop in the compost heap.

Most of the larvae are phytophages, but there are also saprophages and predators. Phytophages develop in the stems of rush plants, sorrel, and sedges; they also give preference to plants of the lily and reed families. Rye ears often suffer from attacks by voracious larvae.

So why is it called that?

The fact is that the dung fly lays eggs in cattle manure.
Undoubtedly, this is the place where the required temperature is maintained for eggs and larvae. After about a day, the eggs hatch into larvae, which, by the way, also do not eat manure, but get the opportunity to hunt the larvae of other insects. The population numbers about five hundred species. Therefore, the dung fly may not always hatch its larvae in manure. Some species develop in plant stems, algae, etc.

The larvae of some species of dung flies lead a “vegetarian” lifestyle - they are hatched in the leaves of plants. The fly lays eggs, attaching them to a leaf. After a while, a larva appears that mines the leaves, that is, it gnaws holes inside the leaf. Then it pupates, and after a while a new dung fly emerges from the pupa.

Life cycle

Cicadas are relatively long-lived insects. A group of periodical cicadas can have a total lifespan of up to 17 years. But the imago lives only for a few months and the main goal of the adult is to find a partner for reproduction. All periodical cicadas are North American species.

Life cycle of a cicada

In terms of the level of harm, periodic species do not reach the level of real locusts, but it is better not to plant young trees before their departure. Old plants easily tolerate the mass appearance of insects.

Song cicadas live shorter lives. But the underground period of their development is very poorly studied. Most likely, the time of underground development of the larvae is 1-2 years.

Danger to humans and consequences of bites

Despite the fact that human blood is not suitable for the full development of the moose fly, the parasites also attack humans. In 54% of cases, such attacks are of a mass nature. Unlike other ectoparasites, the deer bloodsucker does not produce an enzyme that has an analgesic effect when piercing the skin of the victim. Therefore, the bite of an elk fly is quite painful and unpleasant. Most often, hunters, shepherds, mushroom pickers and lovers of forest walks in the autumn forest in calm, windless weather suffer from parasites. The greatest activity of bloodsuckers is observed from August to September.

Once on a person’s body or clothing, the tick-like fly remains motionless for some time, thereby lulling the victim’s vigilance. The period of inactivity can last about an hour, and then the bloodsucker begins to move in search of a secluded and favorable place for feeding. Most of all, the moose fly is attracted to the head, since there is something to cling to and calmly get enough blood. Tenacious claws and a special body structure allow the parasite to reliably stick to its “host”. The elk tick is very difficult to remove, shake off, or simply scare away with sudden movements. It holds firmly to the body of the selected object even when walking quickly. Flies remain in a person's hair or skin until they are removed or they accidentally fall off on their own after intense saturation.

moose fly

People react differently to flatworm bites. Some people instantly feel pain, others simply may not feel the moment the skin is pierced. But the consequences of contact with a blood-sucking fly that has managed to stick to the body will definitely appear. They are what makes the moose fly dangerous to humans.

Moose fly causes serious skin ailments that are quite difficult to treat:

• hard papules, blisters and macular rashes with characteristic crusts;
• severe itching and redness of the tissues adjacent to the wound;
• formation of stable dermographism.

Depending on the general physical condition of the human body, a reaction to a moose fly bite may appear within the first 24 hours, and in some cases – after 10-21 days. Having discovered an open itchy wound on the body, in order to avoid complications, you should first perform the following actions:

• treat the bite site with disinfectants;
• take any antiallergic drug;
• lubricate the wound with an antipruritic composition and seal it with a band-aid.

After all these manipulations, you need to consult a doctor for effective treatment.

Do dung beetles live in apartments?

Since dung beetles are predators, they usually have nothing to eat in the house. Therefore, they are extremely rarely found in a person’s home, unless a fly flew into the house purely by accident.

Corrals for livestock are their habitat only during the mating season, when it is necessary to conceive and breed offspring. At this time, male dung flies flock to fresh dung and wait for females. When they appear, sometimes several gentlemen rush to one lady at once, trying to preserve their gene pool.

Entomological scientists have found that the most preferable for flies is the manure of pigs, as well as the manure of young calves feeding on milk. It stays fresh the longest and maintains the necessary temperature for the life and development of larvae, while horse manure dries out quite quickly.

Piedwings

This is a family of spotted wing flies. Most of them are small, only a few mm in length. Some species can reach 2 cm. They are harmless to humans, but cause serious damage to crops.

The list of variegated flies includes the Mediterranean fruit fly with a red belly, which is exotic for Russians. Due to its size (up to 5 mm) and similar coloration, the details of which are difficult to distinguish without a microscope, this fly can easily be confused with Drosophila.

The Mediterranean fly is not among the Russian pests, but can be imported along with citrus fruits - the main food for its larvae.

Where does it live?

Science knows about five thousand species of dung beetles, most of which live in the Palearctic, North America, and Mexico. Together with livestock, the insects found their way to Brazil and South Africa. Up to two dozen species of these insects live on the territory of the Russian Federation.

Dung fly

On a note!

The dung fly is a lover of moisture: it can be found in lowland forests, mountain meadows, coastal vegetation, swamps, peat bogs and even in the southern tundra.