Synanthropic flies of Asir Province, southwest of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

A survey of synanthropic flies was carried out in 11 slaughter houses in 8 localities representing different altitudes in Asir. Flies were sampled twice a month from December 2008 to November 2009 by Final Flight Fly Traps. A total of 11,737 flies consisting of 19 species, belonging to 7 families were collected, of which those of family Muscidae predominated (94.88%) followed by Calliphoridae (3.12%), Sarcophagidae (1.22%) and Fanniidae (0.55%). The other 5 families (Piophilidae, Oestridae, Phoridae, Ulidiidae and Lonchaeidae) totally represented 0.79%. Of the identified species, Musca domestica was predominant (94.26%) followed by Lucilia sericata (1.51%), Sarcophaga carnaria (1.01%), Chrysomya albiceps (0.67%), Fannia canicularis (0.55%), Chrysomya marginalis (0.54%), Muscina stabulans (0.52%), Calliphora vicina (0.39%), Wohlfahrtia nuba (0.14%), Megaselia scalaris (0.08%), Lonchaea sp. (0.06), Bercaea cruentata (0.05), Ophyra sp. and Oestrus ovis (0.04% each), Atherigona sp., Piophila casie and Physiphora demandala (0.03% each) and Parasarcophaga ruficornis (0.01). Flies altogether were more common (16 spp., 84.21%) and abundant (36.45 fly/trap) in highlands than in the other altitude levels. The highlands were found with the maximum Simpson (1-D=0.18) and Shannon (H=0.49, P<0.001) diversity indices. Likewise, the highest density of M. domestica was in the highlands (P<0.05). Regression analysis confirmed that house fly density was directly related to the altitude level (P<0.05). In all altitude levels, housefly was active during the whole year with higher activities during months of low and moderate temperatures (spring, autumn and winter seasons). Analysis revealed that fly density had inverse relation with temperature.

Keywords

• synanthropic flies, Musca domestica, distribution, seasonal abundance, Asir Province, Saudi Arabia.