Musca vetustissima

Musca vetustissima
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Diptera
Family:	Muscidae
Genus:	Musca
Species:	M. vetustissima
Binomial name
Musca vetustissima Walker, 1849

Musca vetustissima — commonly known as the Australian bush fly — is a species of fly found in Australia.^[1] It is the specific fly that has given rise to the expression "Aussie salute".^[2]

Description

The bush fly is a dung fly that is closely related to the bazaar fly (M. sorbens). The adults are attracted to large mammals for fluid for nourishment and feces for oviposition.^[3] A study showed that there is a low survival rate for eggs and larvae in cattle feces because of infrequent rainfall. The study also showed that parasites and predators have caused a low survival rate.^[4] According to a study, the fly can spread harmful bacteria. The fly can spread the pathogens Salmonella and Shigella. Most of the bacterial populations per fly occurred in a farm environment while an urban environment was the lowest.^[5] A standard composition that contains small amounts of trimethylamine and indole, blended with large amounts of ammonium sulfate and anchovy meal attracts the fly.^[6] A wind-oriented trap has been used to catch this species.^[7] The number of ovariole in females probably have to do with how big they are. If females do not obtain enough dietary protein, the maturation of their eggs will stop.^[8] The fly likes to crawl on human faces as well as on the faces of livestock.^[9]

Larvae

The fly breeds in large numbers in dung pads.^[10] Larvae has been found in the feces of large mammals. The species continually breeds in subtropical Australia and migrations help repopulate Australia and Tasmania each spring.^[3] In a study, a mixture of levamisole and oxfendazole killed larvae in sheep feces.^[11]

References

1. ^ "Musca vetustissima, the Australian bush fly". http://www.pherobase.com/database/species/species-Musca-vetustissima.php. Retrieved 4 April 2009. 
2. ^ Roger D. Moon (2009). "Muscid flies (Muscidae)". In Gary R. Mullen, Gary Mullen & Lance Durden. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press. pp. 268–288. ISBN 9780123725004. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Richard Mullen, Gary; Mullen, Gary; Durden, Lance (2009). Medical and Veterinary Entomology. Academic Press. p. 276. ISBN 978-0123725004. http://books.google.com/?id=6R1v9o-uaI4C&pg=PA276&dq=Musca+vetustissima&q=Musca%20vetustissima. 
4. ^ Matthiessen, J. N. (1985). "Breeding of the bush fly, Musca vetustissima Walker, in an over-wintering area during winter and spring". Austral Ecology 10 (2): 101–104. doi:10.1111/j.1442-9993.1985.tb00870.x. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119516218/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0. Retrieved 2010-05-28. 
5. ^ "The Australian bush fly (Musca vetustissima) as a potential vector in the transmission of foodborne pathogens at outdoor eateries.". Foodborne Pathog Dis 7 (3): 275–9. 7 March 2010. doi:10.1089/fpd.2009.0366. PMID 19895260. 
6. ^ Mulla, Mir S.; Ridsdill-Smith, James T. (21 June 1985). "Chemical attractants tested against the Australian bush flyMusca vetustissima (Diptera: Muscidae)". Journal of Chemical Ecology 12 (1): 261–270. doi:10.1007/BF01045609. http://www.springerlink.com/content/x500913341355l01/. Retrieved 2010-05-28. 
7. ^ New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research (1958-03). New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research Mar 1958. The Royal Society of New Zealand. p. 316. http://books.google.com/?id=Guw3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA316&lpg=PA316&dq=Musca+vetustissima&q=Musca%20vetustissima. 
8. ^ Vogt, W. G.; Walker, J. M. (July 1987). "Potential and realised fecundity in the bush fly, Musca vetustissima under favourable and unfavourable protein-feeding regimes". Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 44 (2): 115–122. doi:10.1007/BF00367618. http://www.springerlink.com/content/h27225377750425p/. Retrieved 2010-05-28. 
9. ^ D. Bowman, Dwight; Georgi, Jay R (2008). Georgis' Parasitology for Veterinarians. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 17. ISBN 978-1416044123. http://books.google.com/?id=g_tBWVBevM0C&pg=PA15&dq=Musca+vetustissima&q=Musca%20vetustissima. 
10. ^ DeBach, Paul; Rosen, David (1991). Biological control by natural enemies. CUP Archive. p. 348. ISBN 978-0521391917. http://books.google.com/?id=K6dOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA348&lpg=PA348&dq=Musca+vetustissima&q=Musca%20vetustissima. 
11. ^ "Effects of ivermectin residues in sheep dung on the development and survival of the bushfly, Musca vetustissima Walker and a scarabaeine dung beetle, Euoniticellus fulvus Goeze.". Veterinary parasitology 48 (1-4): 139–57. June 1993. PMID 8346628.