Succession and Abundance of Insects in Pasture Manure: Relationship to Face Fly1 Survival2

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Abstract
All insects present in simulated field manure piles were collected after the manure was exposed 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 days to relate their presence and abundance to predation on the immature forms of the face fly, Musca autumnalis DeGeer. Of the 157 species of adult insects collected, only 32 were rated as abundant, numerous or common. The abundance and time of initial appearance at the manure indicate the following species can be important factors in predation upon immature forms of the face fly: Harpalus caliginosus (F.), Harpalus spp. and Chlaenius tomentosus Say on 3rd-stage larvae and puparia; Hister abbreviatus Say on eggs and all larval stages; Sphaeridium larvae on 2nd- and 3rd-stage larvae; Philonthus cruentatus Gmelin, P. rectangulus Sharp and Aleochara bimaculata (Gravenhorst) on eggs and larvae. Staphylinid larvae appeared too late to prey on immature forms of the face fly. The role of ants as predators in field manure was difficult to assess. The initial appearance at the manure of the 3 most abundant species of Scarabaeidae indicated little possibility of competition with the face fly.

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