Biological and Ecological Studies of Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae), and Other Selected Arthropods of High-Rise Cage Layer Poultry Houses by Perian Lenore Dillon Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Entomology APPROVED: - u DG. we Chairman aa: Jr. Kk WT. RD. Fell P.L. Ruszler — Biological and Ecological Studies of Hydrotaea aenescens (Weidemann) (Diptera: Muscidae), and Other Selected Arthropods of High-Rise Cage Layer Poultry Houses by Perian Lenore Dillon Committee Chairman: Douglas G. Pfeiffer Entomology (ABSTRACT) Laboratory and field studies of Hydrotaea aenescens were undertaken to provide information on this predator's biology and ecology under differing conditions, and to promote its use as a biocontrol agent for controlling house flies in poultry houses. Taxonomic diversity of arthropods in a new high-rise cage layer poultry house was determined from manure samples collected from different manure moisture categories. Stabilization of taxonomic diversity and taxonomic evenness of manure- inhabiting arthropods occurred after the house had been operating for eight months. In contrast, overall diversity in high-rise poultry houses at a well managed, longer established farm was significantly higher than that observed at the new farm, even after 1 1/2 years of operation. When the densities of selected manure-inhabiting predatory arthropods collected from the manure samples (including Carcinops pumilio, pseudoscorpions, a dermapteran species, an anthocorid species, and H. aenescens) were correlated with percent manure moisture, the results showed that, of these predators, only H. aenescens was positively correlated with both manure moisture and with densities of house fly larvae. This information emphasized that although predators such as C. pumilio may exhibit high predation rates on house fly eggs and first instars, their effectiveness 1s reduced by their spatial separation from their supposed prey. This contrasts greatly with H. aenescens performance. Decreases in survival of house fly larvae occurred when the larvae were exposed to H. aenescens of higher larval stadia. This was dramatically demonstrated when 100 first instar house flies were exposed to 100 second instar H. aenescens. No house fly larvae survived. Developmental times were determined at constant temperatures for egg, and larval H. aenescens. Developmental times decreased as temperature increased. Median time for egg and larval development ranged from 1.3 and 14.6 days at 22.2°C to 0.5 and 8.3 days at 35.0°C, for the respective stages. All of this information, together with developmental times and mortality of H. aenescens immatures gathered in a study of temperature dependent development has enhanced understanding of the biotic interactions in accumulated poultry manure. These data will be invaluable in designing integrated pest management programs especially in the area of computer-aided decision making. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to express my sincere thanks to Dr. E.C. Turner, Jr., my advisor. Not only has he acted as an advisor and mentor, but as a friend and confident. His entire family has been supportive during my years here. I wish to thank Dr. Douglas G. Pfeiffer for assuming the role as my advisor subsequent to Dr. Turner's retirement. His guidance, patience and understanding were exactly what I needed to get through to the end. I also wish to thank the remaining members of my committee, Dr. R.D. Fell, Dr. L.T. Kok, and Dr. P.L. Ruszler. Each member provided me with insight, and challenges that allowed me to develop as a scientist. I am very grateful to Heather Wren for taking interest in both myself and my work. She sacrificed many days and late nights providing me with assistance, and often provided the "whip-cracking" that was needed as well. I am also grateful to those individuals which provided me with statistical expertise, including Dr. Alexi Sharov, Dr. Jacques Régniére, Dr. Golde I. Holtzman and especially David Gray. Finally I wish to thank my family for having patience, and David Gaines, Holly Ferguson, David Midgarden, and Marc Linit, for their friendship, advice and encouragement. iv Table of Contents Abstract Acknowledgment........0........ccccccccccccecccecceceeccneeeeeeecenseeteeeteetetisseteeteeeeeeeitittsaaaas IV Chapter Page 1. Tmtroduction..............ccccccccecccece cece eect tenet eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee tne daaaaaaaaaeaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaas 1 2. Literature REVIeW...........0. ccc cece etteeee cette eteteeeeeeeeseeetttttreeeeeeteeeeeeeniaes 4 3. Species Diversity in High-Rise Cage Layer Houses at Two Sites in Virginia, Relationship of Selected Arthropod Abundance to Manure Moisture.................0 ccc ccccecetteeeeceeeeeeeeeaeeeeeeeeeetaeeeeeeees 23 Introduction. ......... 000i cccccccecccce cece eee e eee eeeeee eee eeeeeeteee tte e eee taaeaneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaas 23 Materials and Methods..............cccccccccccccececece e tees eeeeeeeeettttetseeeeeeeeeeeenenns 26 Taxonomic DIVELSIty..............ccc ccc ccccee cece ete e etcetera 30 Relationship of Selected Arthropods to Manure Moisture............... 32 Results and Discussion. .............00.0cccccccccccecccceeecssssseeeeeeseeeeeeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeess 32 Accuracy of Sampling Using Three Categories.......................00.0... 34 Species DIVErsity........ ccc eee eee e eee ee cere ett tetentitnentiteeteneees 38 Changes in Manure Moisture Over Time.............00000..cccccceeeseeees 55 Similarity Indices... cece cece ccc ccccceceeeeeeeeeeeeceeseeeuseeaaaneeesseees 57 Relationship of Selected Arthropods to Manure Moisture............... 63 Correlation Among Taxa..........0.0.00ccccccccccccceccceecece eee tetttttentetttnenes 64 Correlation with Moisture. ...........0..000ccccccccccecceeececeetetttteeseeeeeeeeees 67 Literature Cited .......... 0.0 eect e eee e eee ee cece e eb etttnttttttittstaeseseeeeeeeeeeees 74 Temperature-Dependent Development of Immature Hydrotaea aenescens (Weidemann) (Diptera: Muscidae)..............000000.eeeeeeteeceeeeeeetetneeeeees 78 Introduction. ......0..0..cc cece cccceccccccuccucccuccueereccueceuecuccueeauseestasseetenceecerseneeusencenes 78 Egg development. ...........000 cc ccccccccccc cette eee e eee ettttaeeeeeeeeeeeeettttneaes 81 Larval development............0000..0cccccccecetecee ee eee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 82 Pupal development... cece ccc eee e eee t eee eeeeee teen eee te teeees 82 Data Analysis.......000000ccccccccccccccccecece esse sees eeeeeeesessesseseeeceeeeeseeteseeeenaas 83 Results and Discussion. ...........0000ccccccccccecccceccceteeeeeeeeetttateeeseeeeeeeetetittiaaaes 85 Literature Cited... ccc cccccccccccecceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeseeesteaesaianineeees 100 A Comparison of the Effects of the Predators Hydrotaea aenescens and Carcinops pumilio on Musca domestica at Two Moisture Levels and Two Densities... cccccceceeeeee tees eee eeettttaaaaaaaaaeeeaeaaaaaaes 102 Tntroduction............. 00. cece cece eee e cee tn tense ee eeeeteee eee eee ten tttittitttittnttntenetes 102 Materials and Methods...............00..ccccccececseeeeeeeteeteeeettseeeeeeetteteeeees 104 Experimental Design.............0.0cccccccccee eeceeeneeseeeeetenneaeees 106 Calculations... ccccccccccecceeteeeeeeeetteeeeeetttseetecenitneaes 107 Results... ccc cece cece cece cena eee e cette de eee eeeeee te saaaaeeeeeeeeey 109 Control Mortality. ........00000cccccccccccccecctstssceeeeeeeseetnntnriiaas 109 Mortality of House Flies...........0.000000ccccccecceseeseeeeeeeeeececeeeseens 109 Mortality of H. [email protected] 116 Predation Rate of C. pumilio on House Flies and H. Q€NESCENS....... o.oo ccc cccccccccceccescuceuscuccucceecens DISCUSSION. ...0....0..0ccccccccccccceccuccuccuceuseeseeceeceecceseuseesueceseussevecseseesutiusietecineres Effects of Density and Moisture on House Flies and AH. AENESCENS.......... 0. cecee eee eeeeeeeeeeeees Effects of H. aenescens, C. pumilio, Density, and Moisture on House Flies...............0.000ceeeeeeee Predation Rates of C. pumilio.......0......0cccccccccccccccceeeeeeeeenees vi Interspecific Interference. ..........0.00.0.0cccccccecceeceeeeeeeetttteees 130 Literature Cited ......0. 00. ccc ccccccccccccccccuccuceuceucetccecuscusreceseuseetucenssenss 132 6. Laboratory Investigation of the Effect of Density, and Instar Synchrony between Musca domestica and Hydrotaea aenescens, on Survival of Musca domestica Larvae..............0..006cccccccccccece e cece cece tceetetee te eeees 134 Introduction... cect eter eee e eee eet nienteaaa 134 Materials and Methods.........0...000000.cccccccceeeseeeteeneseeeeeetstseeeeteeteneas 137 Experimental Design.......0..0....0.ecece cece 137 Calculations and Analyses.................000cccccecceseeeetteetetttttttees 139 0 ee 142 Survival of H. Q@N@SCENS 00... ccc 142 Survival of House Flies in Controls................ccccccccccccccceees 142 Effect of Varying H. aenescens Instar and M. domestica Density on Survival of First and Second Instar M. MOMeSICA.. 00... coccie cece ese ceeseeeceeeteeess 145 Effect of Density of A4 domestica, and H. aenescens Instar on First Instar MZ domesticd........00.000c ccc 148 Effect of Density and Instar on Survival of Each Instar of MZ domestica Exposed to Equal-Instar FD, A@NCSCONS ooo c ect e cece ett esaeees 150 | DI ESe.005) (0) eee 154 Literature Cited... ccc cece cece eeetteseseeeeeeeeeeetttstsesaaees 157 Complete List of References... icc ceccceeeeneeeeeeeneeteeeeeeteseeeeeeeteseteesennaeees