Autumn lighter: lifestyle and harmfulness of a blood-sucking insect

Flies are synanthropic insects whose life is closely related to humans. They absorb liquid food. A weak proboscis cannot harm humans or animals. But not all dipterans are harmless. Species autumn lighter is an active bloodsucker. It feeds on cattle, but can fly into houses and bite a person. The pest carries pathogens of dangerous diseases: anthrax, tularemia, staphylococci.

Appearance

Autumn lighter (Stomoxyscalcitrans) is a species of real flies, a representative of the diptera squad. In appearance and structure of organs, it is close to a housefly. It is not surprising that insects are confused, surprised at their aggressiveness in the autumn. The lighter has a stocky body with a length of 5.5-7 mm. The body is gray, dark stripes on the chest, black spots on the abdomen. Four longitudinal strips on mesonotum. The head is large, mobile. On cheekbones yellowish-white coating. There is a dark streak on the forehead. Antennae short, sharp, black.

Faceted eyes occupy most of the head. They play a significant role in the life of flies. Insects rely on eyesight for food and salvation from enemies. The trunk and head are articulated by a thin stalk. Their surface is covered with dark bristles. For flight, one pair of transparent wings is used. The limbs are thin and long, black.

Proboscis structure

To be able to pierce the skin of animals, lighters acquired a proboscis with special plates. The organ is solid, thin and long, slightly protruding forward. It ends with special sucking plates coated with chitinous teeth. During the attack on the animal, the plates move, and a large number of teeth breaks the surface layer of the skin. Proboscis coloration black with low tide.

Larvae

At the larval stage, the offspring of the lighter are yellowish-white in color. At the first age they are transparent, the length of the flexible elongated body is 1.2 mm. By the third age they grow to 11-12 mm. The body consists of 8 segments. A ring of small spikes is located on the chest. On the abdominal segments from the second to the seventh are tuberous outgrowths. Respiratory on the eighth segment. The larva is devoid of limbs, it moves with the help of tubercles and spikes.

Propagation Features

Male and female individuals of the autumn lighter differ in the structure of the genitals and forehead. Males have a narrow forehead, accounting for 2/3 of the width of the eyes. Females have a fairly wide, almost identical to the size of the eye. Flies are insects with complete transformation. Their life cycle is only 5-20 days. 2-3 days after leaving the pupa, the adults are ready for mating and procreation. For laying eggs, females choose places where organic matter decomposes - manure, compost heaps, haystacks.

In one clutch there are from 100 to 130 white eggs of elongated shape. During the lifetime, one female makes 5-7 clutches. Before the appearance of the larva, 10-24 hours pass. During development, it molt twice and changes three ages. At a temperature comfortable for the flies (+ 27-30 ° C) after 4-5 days, the larva turns into a pupa.The cover of the third age hardens and acquires a red-brown color. Externally, the pupa is similar to a capsule, its length is up to 6 mm. On the site of the head, a slight expansion. Breathers are located on the border of the first and second segment. In the heat, all stages from the egg to the adult lighter pass in 6 days.

Before pupation, the larvae move to manure with a moisture content of not more than 20-40%. The highest concentration is observed in a place with a temperature of + 25 °. The pupa can be at a depth of up to 50 cm. Elevated temperature and humidity negatively affect its condition. Pupa development takes 4-7 days; a formed fly emerges from the cocoon.

Attention. Autumn larvae larvae die at a temperature of + 52 ° C.

Lifestyle

The genus of true Stomoxys flies includes 18 species of various ectoparasites of animals. Autumn lighter Stomoxyscalcitrans is the only species that is found everywhere and is synanthropic. Insects are called village insects for their affection for pets. Flies choose the place of residence for cattle - cows, pastures. Large clusters of autumn flares are observed in bright places. They bask sitting on the walls of the paddock, tree trunks, the ground. Diptera activity is manifested only in the daytime.
At the end of summer, the population of the autumn fly fly increases several times. During the warm season, manages to appear on less than seven generations of a harmful insect. Competition for food forces flies to explore new territories. During this period, they increasingly appear next to people, fly into the house. Being a thermophilic species, they cease activity at a temperature of + 8 ° C. They leave for wintering at any stage - larva, pupa, and imago. In favorable conditions, at a constantly high temperature of + 15 ° C, the development process goes on without interruption.

Food

For life, insects need to eat every 2-3 days. Blood suction takes 15 minutes. At the same time, the abdomen of the fly is greatly inflated, it becomes heavy, moves with difficulty. Lighters prefer to feed in the morning and evening, in cool weather - closer to noon. In autumn, the metabolism of insects slows down and they eat less often, can starve for up to 10 days.

Information. In large animals, lighters are collected on the legs and stomach. Dog blood is sucked while sitting in the ear area. People bite by the legs and elbows.

Maliciousness

The blood of animals is sucked by males and females. They attack various animals:

• cows
• goats
• pigs;
• horses.

Bites go to dogs and people. Pets are severely affected by the attack of bloodsucking flies. During feeding, the insect throws in the secretion of the salivary glands. Lighter saliva, which enters the proboscis from two channels, has toxic properties. Livestock owners have to repeatedly observe how animals beat their hooves, buck, wave their head or tail. After biting, the horses hurt and swell their knees. It is difficult for animals to stand. In cows, milk yield is reduced by 40-50%.

People tolerate the bite of an autumn lighter in different ways. For some, this is a short injection, while for others, itching in bitten skin suffers for a long time. Unpleasant sensations and discomfort is not the only harm from flies. Blood-sucking insects carry various infections. When bitten, pathogens of dangerous diseases get into the blood: sepsis, tularemia, anthrax, tuberculosis.

Attention. When attacking animals with a large number of autumn lighters, they lose weight. Constant irritation and pain negatively affect health.

First aid for bites of a lighter

Malicious insects most often choose among people helpless victims - young children, people with disabilities, sleeping. Usually bite by the legs. Because of the saliva injected into the wound, burning sensation and swelling appear.

An injured person needs first aid:

• Cool the affected area with ice.
• Treat the wound with an antiseptic.
• To relieve itching, soda lotions are recommended.
• People prone to allergies should be given an antihistamine.
• If a day or two after the bite, the victim feels unwell, you should go to the hospital. Possible infection.

Control measures

To destroy blood-sucking pests, mechanical and chemical methods of control are used.

Mechanical

1. Installation of mosquito nets on windows and doors.
2. The use of traps for flies, which are made of plastic or glass containers with bait inside.
3. Strips of masking tape hanging in rooms. An effective and safe insect repellent, but odorless to humans.

Chemical

To prevent the spread of insects using only mechanical methods will not work. For complete extermination, chemical preparations will be required.

1. Against adults, systemic insecticides, poisonous baits are used.
2. Destroy larvae and pupae help special pesticides - larvicides.

Preventive actions

In order not to have to suffer from insect bites, it is recommended to follow simple preventive measures:

• Take out garbage in a timely manner and clean up indoors.
• Arrange concrete floors on livestock farms.
• Install garbage containers on paved areas.
• Do not forget to install mosquito nets with the advent of spring.