Significance of Cattle Discharges and Secretions as Protein Sources for Ovarian Development in the Face Fly (Diptera: Muscidae)
- 1 February 1985
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Environmental Entomology
- Vol. 14 (1) , 60-64
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/14.1.60
Abstract
We demonstrated using motion photography that female face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer, feed directly on nasal discharges and eye secretions (Mucoid layer deposited on surface and medial canthus of eye) and tears of cattle. Female flies effectively used bovine eye secretions (provided in vivo) and tears, nasal discharges, and dung (provided in vitro) as sources of protein to complete gonotrophic development. Flies did not complete egg development when fed only saliva and sucrose twice daily for 10 days. Purified protein fractions commonly found in tears (bovine serum albumin and immune globulins IgG and IgA) contain essential amino acids for ovarian development. However, flies provided with diets of saliva, nasal discharges, and tears (provided in vitro) without any sucrose added, did not survive beyond 48 h. Dietary studies suggested that eye secretions and nasal discharges are the most valuable bovine sources of proteins to face flies for fastest egg development.Keywords
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