Face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae), are very important veterinary pests in parts of North America and the Old World for the damage they inflict to cattle eyes and their role as vectors of various pathogens of cattles. Control of this pest relies mainly on pesticides, which are inadequate and may result in environmental pollution and toxic effects on animals. Thus, safer and effective management strategies must be sought. Face flies are attracted to volatiles of Euonymous plants, commonly grown as ornamentals. Bioassay results showed that face flies responded more actively to odors of flowers of Euonymous plants than they did to odors of leaves. Euonymous plant volatiles were collected, and the trapped chemicals were subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and used for screening bioactive components with gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD). Once the bioactive components are identified, blends of compounds could potentially be used in management of face fly populations.
Species 1: Diptera Muscidae Musca autumnalis (face fly)
Keywords: Bioassay, GC-EAD
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