Dung fly: habitat, photo

Flies are called numerous representatives of the order Diptera. On Earth, there are about one hundred and fifty thousand species.

Who is she?

With the phrase "dung fly", the imagination immediately draws a swarm of brilliant green insects swarming in the dung. In fact, this fly is different. She does not shine, and does not live in dung.

The dung fly is pretty attractive: its entire body is covered with long thick hairs of yellow or dark gray color, so that it looks like a pretty furry toy. The size of an adult of some species reaches 12-15 mm, that is, it is almost the same as an ordinary housefly. On its head there are antennae antennae, as well as large eyes of brownish-red hues.

Where does he live?

Judging by the name, it seems that the dung fly should live in dung or eat it. This is not true. In fact, she lives in a beautiful world of flowers, she can easily be found in the garden among fragrant plants. Like a bee, the dung fly, whose yellow fur is an excellent collection of pollen, participates in the pollination of flowers. But she also does not feed on nectar or pollen.

The driftwood is a predator. She attacks other insects and kills them with an instant bite of their powerful jaws. On the legs of the horse, there are long thorns with which it grasps and holds the victim. Can hunt and fly other species, and sometimes the prey is more than the hunter herself.

Here, for example, a dung fly, a photo of which was made at the time of the attack on the housefly (see above).

So why is it so called?

The fact that the eggs dung fly lays eggs in the dung of cattle. Undoubtedly, this is the place where the necessary temperature for eggs and larvae is preserved. About a day later, larvae are hatched from eggs, which, by the way, do not eat manure, but they can hunt for larvae of other insects.

The population totals about five hundred species. Therefore, the dung fly of its larva can not always lead out in manure. Some species develop in the stems of plants, in algae, etc.

Larvae of some species of manure flies lead a "vegetarian" way of life - they are excreted in the leaves of plants. The fly lays eggs, attaching them to the leaf. After a while, a larva appears that minishes the leaves, that is, it gnaws through the leaf through the passage. Then pupates, and after a while a new fly-fly emerges from the pupa.

Do they live in an apartment?

Since the dung beetles are predators, they usually do not have anything to eat in the house. Therefore, they are extremely rare to be found in a person's home, except that the fly flew into the house purely by accident.

Paddocks for livestock are their habitat only during the mating season, when it is necessary to conceive and breed. At this time, the males of the dung fly fly into fresh manure and wait for the females. When they appear, then several ladies sometimes rush to one lady, trying to keep their gene pool.

Scientists-entomologists found out that the most preferable for flies is the manure of pigs, as well as the manure of young calves, feeding on milk. It lasts the most fresh and keeps the necessary temperature for life and development of the larvae, while horse manure dries fairly quickly.

Will the dung flies harm?

The dung fly itself is not a pest to humans. Although she crawls on dung, but flies into the house very rarely, so she has no way to carry the pathogenic bacteria. For animals, an insect is also not a threat.

But sometimes flies become too much, and they can start bothering the animals, climbing those in the eyes and ears. That's when the farmers and the question arises as to how to reduce the number of annoying insects.

In addition, larvae-miners are a serious problem for gardeners, as they damage the leaves of plants, digging in them tunnels for their movement.

Methods of combating flies

To insecticides with the content of pyrethrum, it is best to turn to the last. The fact that pyrethrum is very toxic, to work with it you need to follow such precautions as a respirator and gloves, in addition, you need to protect the exposed skin. The use of such a tool can affect pets, as well as plants, so you must strictly follow the instructions and take into account the proportions.

In this case, flies will die after the first spraying, but larvae and eggs have increased endurance, so in any case, not one treatment will be required.

Methods of combating dung beetles include:

• Removal and destruction of affected leaves;
• Cultivation of plants under the canvas, which prevents the penetration of flies;
• Regular cleaning in pens where livestock is kept.

In addition, do not forget about such methods of getting rid of flies, like a usual sticky tape. Suspended in the crib velcro will be able to control the amount of insects for a while. An effective way to deal with them can serve and laurel oil, which need to rub window frames, as well as doorways in the pen. The smell of bay oil discourages the dung beetles, as, indeed, many other pests.