Hostname: page-component-84b7d79bbc-4hvwz Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-25T14:50:42.088Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The role of bacterial odours in oviposition by Lucilia cuprina (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), the Australian sheep blowfly

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

R. L. Emmens
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Sydney, Sydney, N.S.W. 2006, Australia
M. D. Murray
Affiliation:
CSIRO Division of Animal Health, McMaster Laboratory, Private Bag No. 1, P.O., Glebe, N.S.W. 2037, Australia

Abstract

Extracts from cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus mirabilis and Enterobacter cloacae in samples of fleeces from sheep were incorporated into nutrient agar and exposed to females of Lucilia cuprina (Wied.) in cages. The blowflies often laid eggs in response to the odours emanating from the cultures of all bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. cloacae did not appear to utilise fleece components in the production of oviposition stimulants, whereas B. subtilis did, utilising compounds such as palmitic acid, and Proteus mirabilis degraded wool fibres to produce sulphurous compounds. The results are discussed in relation to the role of L. cuprina in cutaneous myiasis of sheep.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Belschner, H. G. (1937). Studies on the sheep blowfly problem. II. Observations on fleece rot and body strike in sheep, particularly in regard to their incidence, type of sheep susceptible, and economic importance.—Sci. Bull. Dep. Agric. N.S.W. no. 54, 6195.Google Scholar
Browne, L. B. (1962). The relationship between oviposition in the blowfly Lucilia cuprina and the presence of water.—J. Insect Physiol. 8, 383390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Browne, L. B., Bartell, R. J. & Shorey, H. H. (1969). Pheromone-mediated behaviour leading to group oviposition in the blowfly Lucilia cuprina.—J. Insect Physiol. 15, 10031014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Browne, L. B. & Rogoff, W. M. (1959). The ‘ sheep factor ’ and oviposition in Lucilia cuprina.—Aust. J. Sci. 21, 189190.Google Scholar
Claringbold, P. J. (1956). The within-animal bioassay with quantal responses.—Jl R. statist. Soc. (B) 18, 133137.Google Scholar
Conover, W. J. (1971). Practical non-parametric statistics.—462 pp. New York, Wiley.Google Scholar
Downing, D. T., Kranz, Z. H. & Murray, K. E. (1960). Studies in waxes. XIV. An investigation of the aliphatic constituents of hydrolysed wool wax by gas chromatography.—Aust. J. Chem. 13, 8094.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eddy, G. W., DeVaney, J. A. & Handke, B. D. (1975). Response of the adult screwworm (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to bacteria-inoculated and incubated bovine blood in olfactometer and oviposition tests.—J. med. Entomol. 12, 379381.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Emmens, R. L. (1981). Evidence for an attractant in cuticular lipids of female Lucilia cuprina (Wied.), Australian sheep blowfly.—J. chem. Ecol. 7, 529541.Google Scholar
Fraser, I. E. B. & Truter, E. V. (1961). Constitution of suint. Part IV. The component amino acids.—J. Text. Inst. 52, T464–T470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freney, M. R. (1937). Studies on the chemotropic behaviour of sheep blowflies.—Pamph. Coun. scient. ind. Res. Aust. no. 74, 24 pp.Google Scholar
Freney, M. R. (1940). Chemical investigations on the fleece of sheep.—Bull. Coun. scient. ind. Res., Melb. no. 130, 52 pp.Google Scholar
Gillespie, D. T. C. (1948). Wool wax. A review of its properties, recovery and utilization.— J. Text. Inst. 39, P45–P85.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howitt, F. O. & Preston, R. (1960). The composition of suint.—J. Text. Inst. 51, T841–T856.Google Scholar
Hwang, Y. S., Mulla, M. S. & Axelrod, H. (1976). Attractants for synanthropic flies. Identification of attractants and coattractants for Hippelates eye gnats (Diptera: Chloropidae).—J. agric. Fd Chem. 24, 164169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ikeshoji, T., Saito, K. & Yano, A. (1975). Bacterial production of the ovipositional attractants for mosquitoes on fatty acid substrates.—Appl. Entomol. & Zool. 10, 239242.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Joint Blowfly Committee (1933). The sheep blowfly problem in Australia.—Pamph. Coun. scient. ind. Res. Aust. no. 37, 136 pp.Google Scholar
Koch, G. G. (1970). The use of non-parametric methods in the statistical analysis of a complex split plot experiment.—Biometrics 26, 105128.Google Scholar
Kowala, C., Kranz, Z. H. & Murray, K. E. (1962). Investigations of suint. I. The composition of the organic acids from fleeces of different origin.—Aust. J. Chem. 15, 832840.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McQuade, A. B. (1964). Microbiological degradation of wool.—Dermatologica 128, 249266.Google Scholar
Merritt, G. C. (1980). A study of the fleece rot lesion in sheep.—Wool Technol. Sheep Breed. 28, 1113.Google Scholar
Merritt, G. C. & Watts, J. E. (1978). An in-vitro technique for studying fleece-rot and fly strike in sheep.—Aust. vet. J. 54, 513516.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Michalaska, I. (1957). Fungi and bacteria as a factor in decaying of wool fibre.—Acta microbiol. pol. 6, 171188.Google Scholar
Mulcock, A. P. (1965). The fleece as a habitat for micro-organisms.—N.Z. vet. J. 13, 8793.Google Scholar
Mulcock, A. P. (1966). The survival of micro-organisms in fleece wool.—N.Z. Jl agric. Res. 9, 1621.Google Scholar
Mulla, M. S., Hwang, Y. S. & Axelrod, H. (1977). Attractants for synanthropic flies: chemical attractants for domestic flies.—J. econ. Ent. 70, 644648.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, M. D. (1980). Blowfly strike of sheep in southern Australia. 3. Victoria.—Agric. Rec. Dep. Agric. (South Aust.) no. 13, 5458.Google Scholar
Murray, M. D. & Wilkinson, F. C. (1980). Blowfly strike of sheep in southern Australia. 2. Western Australia.—Agric. Rec. Dep. Agric. (South Aust.) no. 13, 5053.Google Scholar
Pelick, N. & Shigley, J. W. (1967). The fatty acids of degras.—J. Am. Chem. Soc. 44, 121125.Google Scholar
Prindle, B. (1935). The microbiology of textile fibres. IV. Raw wool.—Text. Res. J. 6, 2343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seddon, H. R. (1937). Studies on the sheep blowfly problem. III. Bacterial colouration of wool.—Sci. Bull. Dep. Agric. N.S.W. no. 54, 96110.Google Scholar
Siegel, S. (1956). Non parametric statistics for the behavioral sciences.—312 pp. New York, McGraw Hill.Google Scholar
Watts, J. E., Murray, M. D. & Graham, N. P. H. (1979). The blowfly strike problem of sheep in New South Wales.—Aust. vet. J. 55, 325334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed