Environmental Entomology (1992) 21, 141-147

C.J. Jones, D.E. Milne, R.S. Patterson, E.T. Schreiber and J.A. Milio (1992)
Nectar feeding by Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae): Effects on reproduction and survival
Environmental Entomology 21 (1), 141-147
Abstract: Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), were offered one, two, or ad libitum meals of citrated bovine blood on a daily basis in combination with nectar (a 1:3 dilution of wild honey in water) at levels of none, one, or ad libitum each day. Reproduction during a 12-d period was depressed with ad libitum nectar to as low as 35% of flies receiving nectar once per day or not at all. Direct interference with blood hunger appeared to occur in nectar-fed stable flies. Female survivorship decreased 21-29% among flies receiving ad libitum nectar. Flies given blood ad libitum produced >55 and 40% more eggs than flies offered blood once or twice per day. In a separate experiment, the survivorship of adult flies given dilutions of purified sugars was measured. Statistically, the highest mean survival time was 8 d for flies fed trehalose, 5 times the length allowed by water alone. Fructose and melezitose were next, with life spans that were ~4 times that of water-fed flies. Maltose, raffinose, glucose, sucrose, and melibiose meals extended life spans from 3 to 2 times that of water. The disturbance to reproduction that results from nectarophagous activities is discussed in view of the normal field activities of the species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Stomoxys calcitrans