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INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION HEIGHT ON THE DISPERSAL OF HOUSE FLIES (MUSCA DOMESTICA) FROM LIVESTOCK FACILTIES AND FILTH FLY ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH COMPOSTED AND NON-COMPOSTED BEEF CADAVERS By TRISHA ROSE DUBIE Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice; Criminalistics Lake Superior State University Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan 2006 Master of Science in Entomology and Plant Pathology Oklahoma State University Stillwater, Oklahoma 2010 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY July, 2014 INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION HEIGHT ON THE DISPERSAL OF HOUSE FLIES (MUSCA DOMESTICA) FROM LIVESTOCK FACILTIES AND FILTH FLY ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH COMPOSTED AND NON-COMPOSTED BEEF CADAVERS Dissertation Approved: Dr. Justin Talley Dissertation Adviser Dr. Astri Wayadande Dr. Tom Royer Dr. Joshua Payne Dr. Chris Richards ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to begin by thanking my major advisor, Dr. Justin Talley. Since I began working as a doctoral student, he has been incredibly supportive, encouraging and enthusiastic. He has also allowed me the freedom to explore many avenues that we did not originally intend with this research. I feel that I am a more inquisitive and fervent scientist as a result of my experiences throughout the past four years. I must also extend my deepest gratitude to my family and my fiancé, Seth. They have blessed me with an infinite amount of love and support. Although 1200 miles can become burdensome, my family has always been with me when I’ve needed them and made an effort to visit Oklahoma when I could not get back to Michigan. There are no words to describe the many things they have given me, and I am exceedingly grateful. I would like to thank my graduate committee members, Dr. Astri Wayadande, Dr. Chris Richards, Dr. Josh Payne and Dr. Tom Royer. Also, I would like to thank the many faculty members that have provided advice, insight and instruction. Dr. Jack Dillwith has been a tremendous influence. I am also very appreciative of the assistance with my projects provided by him and Robin Madden. Several student workers have helped me shovel wood chips and clean up after the fly colonies over the years and I am very grateful for their help. I have to thank my fiancé a second time for the same reason. He has helped me in the field, shoveling wood chips and many other things that he’d probably rather not. Listing the rest of the things I have been thankful for since I arrived in 2007 to begin my master’s work would take far more than the one page allowed. iii Acknowledgements reflect the views of the author and are not endorsed by committee members or Oklahoma State University. Name: TRISHA R DUBIE Date of Degree: JULY, 2014 Title of Study: INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION HEIGHT ON THE DISPERSAL OF HOUSE FLIES (MUSCA DOMESTICA) FROM LIVESTOCK FACILTIES AND FILTH FLY ACTIVITY ASSOCIATED WITH COMPOSTED AND NON- COMPOSTED BEEF CADAVERS Major Field: ENTOMOLOGY Abstract: House flies, Musca domestica L., are well known pests inexorably linked to livestock operations, and they also serve as mechanical vectors of various human pathogens including E. coli 0157:H7. Changes in the landscape from anthropogenic activity have resulted in increased human exposure to house fly pests, and monitoring their movements is paramount in assessing the risks associated with flies emigrating from livestock facilities. This study focused on edge following behavior and the use of habitat corridors by house flies. Artificial structures designed to represent tree and shrub lines were constructed in a field south of a beef feedlot facility. Marked house flies were released at individual sites containing 3m walls, 1.5m walls and a control site with no wall and a substantially higher number of flies were trapped at the 3m site than both the control and 1.5m sites. Immunomarking techniques were also evaluated for this study using chicken ovalbumin as an antigen. A false negative rate of 0% was determined using unmarked wild flies as negative controls. Livestock facilities are also faced with the challenge of disposing of a significant number of cadavers each year. One increasingly popular way of dealing with dead animals is composting. Animal mortality compost is designed to facilitate decomposition without the aid of carrion feeding insects and reduce the presence of common pathogens associated with animal waste and dead tissue. The goal of this study was to evaluate insect activity associated with composted and exposed beef cadavers, specifically filth flies that can serve as mechanical vectors of important human pathogens such as E. coli 0157:H7. The number of filth flies was significantly lower at the composted site than the exposed site. Volatile organic compounds were also sampled in this study, and known fly attractants such as dimethyl disulfide were inhibited by the composting process. Lastly, carrion feeding insects were collected from each of the exposed animals and documented. These species are also important in forensic entomology. Implementing composting programs and using walls of vegetation at livestock facilities could reduce the risk of flies spreading harmful pathogens to surrounding areas including farms that grow fresh produce. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................... 1 Objectives ........................................................................... 4 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ............................................................ 6 House Flies, Musca domestica .................................................... 6 Biology and Ecology ............................................................ 7 Behavior and Sensory .......................................................... 9 House Flies and Pathogens ................................................. 16 Insect Dispersal ................................................................... 20 Marking Insects ............................................................... 21 Dispersal of Synanthropic Flies ............................................ 23 Habitat Corridors ............................................................. 24 Livestock Production ............................................................ 25 Filth Flies ...................................................................... 26 Waste Management .......................................................... 27 Disposal of Mortalities ....................................................... 29 Composting Process .......................................................... 31 Pathogens and Odor Degradation .......................................... 35 Carrion Feeding Arthropods .................................................... 39 Significance of Carrion Feeding Insects in Forensic Entomology ..... 43 III. INFLUENCE OF VEGETATION HEIGHT ON THE DISPERSAL OF HOUSE FLIES, MUSCA DOMESTICA, FROM BEEF FEEDLOTS .................................. 61 Abstract ............................................................................ 61 Introduction ....................................................................... 62 Methodology ...................................................................... 66 Statistical Analysis ............................................................... 68 Results ............................................................................. 69 Discussion.......................................................................... 70 v Chapter Page Conclusions ........................................................................ 73 IV. EVALUATING AN IMMUNOMARKING TECHNIQUE TO STUDY HOUSE FLY (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE) DISPERSAL BEHAVIOR ................................. 82 Abstract ............................................................................ 82 Introduction ....................................................................... 83 Methodology ...................................................................... 86 Mark Release Recapture Study ............................................. 86 Anti-egg albumin ELISA ...................................................... 86 House Fly Positive Controls ................................................. 86 House Fly Negative Controls ................................................ 88 Analysis of Trapped House Flies ........................................... 89 Statistical Analysis ............................................................... 89 Results ............................................................................. 90 Discussion ......................................................................... 91 Conclusions ........................................................................ 96 V. FILTH FLY ACTIVITY ASSOCOIAUTED WITH COMPSTED AND NON-COMPOSTED BEEF CADAVERS AND THE EFFECT OF COMPOSTING ON VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS ............................................. 103 Abstract ........................................................................... 103 Introduction ...................................................................... 104 Methodology ..................................................................... 107 Insect Activity ............................................................... 107 Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds ................................