Flies are the names of numerous representatives of the Diptera squad. On Earth, there are about one hundred and fifty thousand species.
Who is she?
With the phrase “dung fly,” the imagination immediately draws a swarm of shiny green insects swarming in the dung. Actually this fly is different. It does not shine, and does not live in manure.
The dung fly is quite attractive in appearance: its entire body is covered with long thick hairs of yellow or dark gray color, so that it looks like a cute shaggy toy. The size of an adult individual of some species reaches 12-15 mm, that is, it is almost the same as a regular housefly. Antenna antennae are located on her head, as well as large eyes of brown-red hues.
Where does he live?
Judging by the name, it seems as if the dung fly should live in the manure or eat it. This is not true. In fact, she lives in a beautiful world of flowers, she can easily be found in the garden among fragrant plants. Like a bee, a dung fly, whose yellow wool is an excellent collection of pollen, is involved in pollination of flowers. But she also does not eat nectar or pollen.
The dung beetle is a predator. She attacks other insects and kills them with an instant bite of her powerful jaws. Long spikes are located on the legs of the dung beetle, with the help of which it captures and holds the victim. It can hunt for flies of another species, and sometimes prey is more than the hunter herself.
Here, for example, a dung fly, a photo of which was taken at the time of the attack on a housefly (see above).
So why is it called that?
The fact is that the dung fly lays eggs in cattle dung. Undoubtedly, this is the place where the required temperature is maintained for eggs and larvae. About a day later, larvae hatch from eggs, which also, by the way, do not eat manure, but get the opportunity to hunt the larvae of other insects.
The population numbers about five hundred species. Therefore, the dung fly does not always hatch its larvae in manure. Some species develop in plant stems, in algae, etc.
The larvae of some species of dung flies lead a "vegetarian" lifestyle - they are hatched in the leaves of plants. The fly lays eggs, attaching them to the sheet. After a while, a larva appears that mines the leaves, that is, it gnaws passages inside the leaf. Then pupates, and after a while a new dung beetle appears from the pupa.
Do dung beetles live in an apartment?
Since dung beetles are predators, they usually have nothing to eat in the house. Therefore, they are extremely rare to find in a person’s home, except that a fly flew into the house purely by accident.
Corrals for livestock are their habitat only during the mating season, when it is necessary to conceive and breed. At this time, the male dung flies flock to fresh manure and wait for the females. When they appear, then several gentlemen rushing to one lady at once, striving to preserve precisely their gene pool.
Entomological scientists have found that the most preferred for flies is pig manure, as well as manure for young calves that feed on milk. It stays fresh the longest and maintains the necessary temperature for the life and development of larvae, while horse manure dries quite quickly.
Do dung flies harm?
The dung fly itself is not a pest for humans. Although it crawls over manure, it rarely flies into housing, so it does not have the ability to spread pathogenic bacteria. For animals, the insect is also not a threat.
But sometimes flies become too many, and they can begin to bother animals, crawling into the eyes and ears. And then the question arises for farmers about how to reduce the number of annoying insects.
In addition, miner larvae are a serious problem for gardeners, since they harm the leaves of plants by digging tunnels in them for their movement.
Fly Control Methods
Pyrethrum insecticides are best treated last. The fact is that feverfew is very toxic, to work with it you must follow such precautions as a respirator and gloves, in addition, it is necessary to protect exposed skin. The use of such a tool can affect pets, as well as plants, so you must strictly follow the instructions and take into account the proportions.
In this case, the flies will die after the first spraying, but the larvae and eggs have increased endurance, so in any case, more than one treatment will be required.
The methods of dealing with dung beetles include:
- removal and destruction of affected leaves;
- growing plants under a canvas that prevents the penetration of flies;
- regular cleaning of livestock pens.
In addition, do not forget about such methods of getting rid of flies, like ordinary adhesive tape. Velcro hanging in a stable can control the number of insects for some time. Laurel oil, which needs to be rubbed with window frames, as well as doorways in the corral, can serve as an effective way to deal with them. The smell of laurel oil scares dung beetles, as, indeed, of many other pests.