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Measuring the duration and frequency of wing beat of Musca autumnalis (Diptera: Muscidae) using a novel tether method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 October 2013

Hanayo Arimoto ,
Harry K. Kaya  and
Edwin E. Lewis
Hanayo Arimoto*
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States of America
Harry K. Kaya
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States of America
Edwin E. Lewis
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States of America
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: harimoto@ucdavis.edu).
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Abstract

The wing beat frequencies (WBF) and flight durations of the face fly, Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae), were evaluated at 1, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 14 days post-eclosion. For flight tests, flies were tethered magnetically using magnetic primer paint. WBF were measured stroboscopically. The average WBF for one-day-old flies was significantly lower compared with the average WBF of all other age groups for both female and male face flies. Based on our results, male and female face flies require more than 24 hours post eclosion to reach a WBF of over 167 beats per second and continuously fly for more than 10 minutes. Age was a significant factor towards WBF. The present study is the first to report laboratory descriptions of face fly flight capabilities. The benefits of the magnetic paint tether (MagPaT) method are discussed.

Résumé

Nous avons évalué les fréquences de battement des ailes (WBF) et la durée du vol chez la mouche faciale, Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae), 1, 3, 5, 7, 11 et 14 jours après l’éclosion. Durant les essais en vol, les mouches étaient retenues magnétiquement à l'aide d'une peinture d'apprêt magnétique. Les fréquences de battement des ailes ont été mesurées par stroboscopie. La WBF moyenne des mouches d'un jour est significativement inférieure à celles des moyennes des autres groupes d’âge de mouches faciales femelles et mâles. D'après nos résultats, il faut aux mouches faciales mâles et femelles plus de 24 heures après l’éclosion pour atteindre une WBF supérieure à 167 battements par seconde et pour voler continuellement plus de 10 minutes. L’âge est un facteur significatif en ce qui a trait à la WBF. Notre étude est la première à décrire en laboratoire les capacités de vol des mouches faciales. Nous discutons des avantages à utiliser la méthode de rétention avec une peinture d'apprêt magnétique.

Type
Techniques – Note
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 146 , Issue 1 , February 2014 , pp. 106 - 110
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2013 

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Footnotes

Subject editor: Justin Schmidt

References

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