Diptera: Simuliidae
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University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 1-1-1985 Reproductive ecology and host-seeking behavior of the black fly, Simulium venustum Say (Diptera: Simuliidae). Kenneth Raymond Simmons University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1 Recommended Citation Simmons, Kenneth Raymond, "Reproductive ecology and host-seeking behavior of the black fly, Simulium venustum Say (Diptera: Simuliidae)." (1985). Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014. 5630. https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations_1/5630 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations 1896 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY AND HOST-SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF THE BLACK FLY, SIMULIUM VENUSTUM SAY (DIPTERAs SIMULIIDAE) A Dissertation Presented By KENNETH RAYMOND SIMMONS Submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPY May 1985 Department of Entomology Kenneth Raymond Simmons © All Rights Reserved National Institute of Health AI—07109—06, AI—13981, RR-074B World Health Organization United States Department of Agriculture NE-118 i i REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY AND HOST-SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF THE BLACK FLY, SIMULIUM VENU5TUM SAY (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) A Dissertation Presented By KENNETH RAYMOND SIMMONS Approved as to style and content by: X -c MZ,, JS . John D. Edman, ! Chairman of Committee Dr. Joseph S. Elkinton, Member J*. Dr. John T. Finn, Member Xyy,'/X Dr. John G. Stoffolano, Jr., Member Dr. Ring T. Card£, Department Head Department of Entomology iii To mom and dad - Carolyn and Leon (Doon) Simmons: your support, understanding, and love are my first and yet still my most cherished memories. There is no reason to archive them. They will always inspire me. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks to my advisor Dr. John Edman. Over the years he has provided immeasurable support, both emotional and -financial. I truly appreciate it. His willingness to let me pursue many of my own interests made this whole project a reality. I also am grateful to my committee members, Drs. Joe Elkinton, John Finn and John Stoffolano. They made insightfull suggestions that helped me cure a couple bouts of "tunnel-vision". I owe the existence of this dissertation to Drs. K. Rothfels and R. Ferraday. They willingly scored larvae for cytospecies identifica¬ tion. I thank them for this, even if they did make me eat duck feet. Dr. Steve Bennett allowed me to identify some of his engorged black flies. I will always be thankful1 to Drs. Bob Coler and Warren Litsky for inflicting me with an inspiration about nature during my Stockbridge years that has not wained with time. Dr. T.M. Peters carries all the weight of my future as a entomologist on his shoulders . He talked into making it my undergraduate major. I harbor no regrets and thank him for the persuasion. I also will be forever grateful to Mary Ssala. She really is a graduate student's best friend, and not just on payday! v Special thanks to Chris Gates, Wren Withers, Jane Bain, Nancy Nut 1 ie-McMenemy and Ernie. They helped me in ways -for which gratitude is not sufficient thanks. Sandra Allan came to my rescue during the host-seeking studies. Jon Day made helpful suggestions for identifying blood meals. I am lucky to have Ned Walker and Dennis LaPointe as friends and colleagues. They are 2 special folks. Two other notable folks that were more than just 'drinking club' companions are Don Eaton and Gaylen Jones. Sassafrass and Boomerang deserve special credit. They sat through hours of experiments without a word of com¬ plaint. They also are darn good buddies, even if they had a habit of taking off. Stephen Fel1ers'generosity, friendship and good nature helped make this project a success, as well as enjoyable. The rest of the 52 gang, particularly Warren and Martha, also fit into this category. The debt of gratitude I accum¬ ulated during my graduate years for the patience and love extended to me by my parents, grandmothers, and my siblings and their families cannot be repaid. Anne Averill's love and companionship made this task a joy. Financial support was provided by NIH grants AI-07109— 06, AI—13981 and RR-0748, USDA Regional Project NE-11B and the World Health Organization. I am grateful for it. vi ABSTRACT REPRODUCTIVE ECOLOGY AND HOST-SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF THE BLACK FLY, S.IMULIUM VENU5TUM SAY (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) (May 1985) Kenneth Raymond Simmons A.S., Stockbridge School of Agriculture B.Sc., University of Massahcusetts M.Sc., University of Massachusetts Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Directed bys Professor John D. Edman The blood-feeding and host-seeking behavior of black flies was studied in Franklin Co-, Massachusetts- Empha¬ sis was on the interaction between humans and Simulium venustum s.1 -, the most common and widely distributed spring species in the county. Blood engorged black flies, including S. venustum, were captured by spraying trees with quick knockdown insec¬ ticide and by truck trapping- Ninety V. of the blood sources identified in 12 species of black flies were from mammals, in particular equines, bovines and racoons. Vision was found to be important in long- and close- range orientation of Prosimulium mixtum/fuscum and S. venustum. Both species oriented to the undersides of host models but this behavior was most pronounced in S- venustum. Close range orientation was affected by model vii posture, shape, color, color intensity and legs suggesting the major cues -for orientation are associated with areas of maximum contrast both within the spehere of the host and with the host's background. UV reflecting pigments were least attractive and dark, low intensity pigments were most attractive to host seeking flies. Simuliurn venustum began to blood feed when 24 hrs old but feeding was low until they were 120 hrs old. Maximum feeding was by 168 hr old females, the oldest group as¬ sayed. Comparison of follicle lengths and stage of wild caught host—seeking females with females of known ages suggested most females do not host seek until 120 hr old. Simulium venustum developing at a lake outlet were significantly larger than individuals developing 1 km down¬ stream from the lake. These smaller flies had lower blood feeding rates in the laboratory and field, were less fe¬ cund, and did not survive as well as larger flies. Less than 207. of the S. venustum that landed on humans in nature blood fed. The mermithid parasite Neomesomermis f1umenalis inhi¬ bited host-seeking, blood-feeding and ovarian development of S. venustum but not "oviposition". viii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION . iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . v ABSTRACT . vi i LIST OF TABLES . xi LIST OF FIGURES xv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION . 1 II. COLLECTION OF BLOOD ENGORGED BLACK FLIES AND IDENTIFICATION OF THEIR SOURCE OF BLOOD . 9 Introduction . Materials and Methods .. 10 Results .-. 13 Discussion . 1*? Conclusions . 24 III. BLOOD FEEDING BEHAVIOR OF SIMULIUM VENUSTL1M ON HUMANS IN NATURE . 26 Introduction . 26 Materials and Methods .- 27 Resul ts .. 29 Discussion ....-. 36 Conclusions . 45 IV. HOST-SEEKING BEHAVIOR OF SIMULIUM VENUSTUM AND PROSIMULIUM MIXTUM/FUSCUM . 46 Introduction .-. 46 Materials and Methods .-. 50 Results . ^*2 Discussion . ^1 Conclusions .. 1°8 V. CHRONOLOGICAL AGE AT BLOOD FEEDING AND FOLLICLE GROWTH IN FEMALE SIMULIUM VENUSTUM . HI Introduction ... 1H LIST OF TABLES Specific antisera used to identify black fly blood meals .... Host blood sources of engorged black flies collected in spring and summer, 1980 — 1982 ... Identification of blood sources in black fly mixed meals . Percent engorgement of female black flies captured by truck trap and insecticide spray .. Percentage of S. venustum that landed and fed on a human host Test to determine if biting of humans by S. venustum during a 5—min sampling period occurred randomly ..... Time spent by S_. venustum females crawling on the skin of a human host before either feeding or flying away Biting of humans positioned in an upright versus quadruped stance by E>. venustum ...... Percentage of parous female EL venustum captured biting humans versus those flying near the host ...*. Number of black fly bites on 2 dogs of the same breed and percentage of total bites on each body region . Number of _P. mixturn and S. venustum engorging on dogs versus those attracted to humans at the same time . Number and percentage of P. mixtum and S. venustum females captured per body region on human hosts positioned in an upright versus quadruped stance . 13. Percentage of the total JP. mixtun> and S. yenusturn captured on the circumferential and longitudinal axis of black horizontal and upright model hosts .. 14. Number of P. mixtum and S. venustum females captured on vertical and horizontal panels baited with carbon dioxide .. 15. Percentage of the total P. mixtum and S. venustum females captured on vertical black panels baited with carbon dioxide 74 16. Number of P. mixtum and S. venustum females captured on the top and bottom of horizontal black panels baited with carbon dioxide ... 75 17. Percentage of the total female P. mixtum and S. venustum captured on each longitudinal section of black model hosts placed in the woods or field . 76 18. Number of P. mixtum and S. venustum captured on black horizontal models baited with or without carbon dioxide . 78 19. Mean and percentage of the total S3. venustum captured per body section on blue and black model hosts baited with and without carbon dioxide ..... 20. Mean and percentage of the total P. mixtum and S. venustum captured on each of the 3 longitudinal and 6 circumferential sections of black horizontal models with and without 21.