title: Flight behavior of Musca domestica and Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) in a Kansas dairy barn.
abstract: Aerial density, flight thresholds, and periodicity were estimated for the house fly, Musca domestica L., and the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), from data collected by suction traps located in a dairy barn in Kansas between 1 July and 31 October 1970. M. domestica catches increased from July to August, declining to near zero by the end of October. S. calcitrans catches peaked in July and September with a major decline in August. Both species exhibited a diel periodicity in flight with maximal activity during the early afternoon. Secondary peaks were detected in the late afternoon or early evening. M. domestica activity peaked about two hours after S. calcitrans. Male and female S. calcitrans flight activity patterns were slightly different, but peaked at the same time. Both species flew at temperatures between 20 and 38 degrees C. At temperatures over 33 degrees C, stable fly activity decreased rapidly. No upper threshold for flight by M. domestica was detected. The median temperature-flight thresholds of male and female S. calcitrans were significantly different, with females flying at lower temperatures than males. The threshold for M. domestica flight was lower than for S. calcitrans. The shape of the temperature-flight relationship indicated that the flight threshold was determined by heat accumulation.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Semakula
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Pitts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D005426:Flight, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D006793:Houseflies / Q000502:physiology*; D006799:Housing, Animal; D008297:Male; D009117:Muscidae / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature