Al-Saffar, et al

Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus.
(2012) 12 (1): 1-9

OCCURANCE OF ADULT MUSCID FLIES ON STICKY TRAPS IN
SOME IRAQI PROVINCES

H.H. Al-Saffar* Razzaq SH. Augul*

Hayder B. Ali** M. S. Abdul – Rassoul*
*Iraq Natural History Museum

** Baghdad University - College of science - Department of Biology

ABSTRACT
Muscid flies Musca domestica L., M. biseta Hough, M. crassirostris Stein, M. sorbens
Wied., Muscina stabulans (Fallen), Atherigona orientalis Schiner, Atherigona sp. and
Limnophora quaterna (Loew) were captured by using yellow sticky traps from different
provinces of Iraq during November 2010. The results showed the highest percentage of all
collected species were recorded in Babylon (48.33%), while the lowest percentage was
observed in Baghdad (4.88%). Musca domestica was the predominant species and was ranked
first in overall prevalence in all provinces studies, while M. biseta was the lowest abundant
species.

INTRODUCTION
Muscid flies small to medium size, usually dull colored, the squamae medium or large size,
hypopleural bristles absent, the second antennal segment (pedicel) with dorsal longitudinal
fissure, arista plumose, pubescent, or bare, eyes of males holoptic but of females dioptic,
frontal bristles always present, intrafrontals frequently present. Abdomen composed of four
segments in the male while five in the female (Curran, 1965; Oldroyd, 1970).While Scudder
and Cannings (2006) referred to these flies are slender to stocky, 2 to 14 mm long and usually
bristly. Their color ranges from yellowish to grey or black, but some are metallic blue or
green. In a few cases the flies are brightly setulose.The wings are usually unmarked, but some
have dark cross veins.The head is usually higher than long with the frons in males narrow to
broad and its central plate sometimes strongly reduced, but in females is at least 25% as wide
as the head with the central plate always distinct and normally wider than the fronto-orbital
area. There are one to many frontal bristles curved inwards. The parafacial area is usually bare,
but the vibrissa is normally strong.

This family worldwide distributed, contains many numbers of species which assigned to
several subfamilies and tribes, and a vast number of genera. In general appearance they are
often very similar to members of the calliphorid flies (Zumpt, 1965), so was written about the
house fly as a carrier of disease and pest of domestic animals and also make attention to man
(Curran, 1965; Pont, 1991), on the other hand Zumpt (1965) assured that muscid flies can be
involved in myiasis cases. Because the flies feeds on filth of all kinds and visits our foodstuffs,
lighting with impunity upon the things we would eat, it is particularly loathsome. It is
attracted to almost anything that is moist, such as sputum, feces, garbage, etc., and may fly
directly from any of these to food used for human consumption.

Flies were implicated in the direct and indirect mechanical transmission of a number of
pathogens responsible for human disease, especially those causing diarrheal illness; the

Occurance of Adult Muscid Flies

common factor in the ecology of several species of flies are their utilization of decomposing
organic materials as food sources for the adults and as developmental media for their larvae.
Considering that these materials are often carrion, feces and food wastes (all with associated
pathogens) (White, 2006) furthermore there are many species of flies can be lay their eggs in
open wound of man and animals causing Myiasis disease (Zumpt, 1965).

The following species were reported in Iraq; Musca determinate Walker, M. humilis Wied.,
M. vitripennis Meigen, M. tempestiva Fallen, Philaematomyia crassrostris Stein, Stomoxys
calcitrans (L.), Lyperosia exigue DeGeer, L. minuta Bezzi and described Musca
mesopotamiensis as a new species Patton(1920), while Khalaf (1957) was recorded species
Muscina stabulans (Fall.), Graphomya maculate (Scope.), Musca sorbens Wied., Musca
domestica vicina Macq., M. domestica nebulo Fab., M.domestica complex, Limnophora sp.
and Daysphora hirsutoculata (Macq.), also Lispe assimilis L. and L. longicollis (Meigen)were
recorded by (Khalaf, 1963more ever Hussain (1963) recorded the species: Musca vicina
Macq., M. sorbens Wied., and Muscina stabulans Fall..

Furthermore (Derwesh, 1965) was referred that the following species found in Iraq were:
Musca domestica Lin., M.crassirostris Stein, M. stabulans, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) and
Limnophora sp., whereas Kaddou (1967) recorded that Atherigona orientalis Sch., Lispe
leucospila Wied. and Muscina assimilis (Fall.) , Abdul-Rassoul (1969) showed the species of
North of Iraq were: Musca larvipara Protsch, Morellia simplex (Loew), Dasyphora sultum
Rond., Pyrellia cadivera L. Muscina pablorum Fall. and Myiospla meditabunda; El-Haidari
et al (1972) recorded the species Atherigona varia Mgn., Helina duplicata Mgn. and
Dasyphora asiatica Zimin; whereas Khalaf and Al-Omar (1974) reported Atherigona soccata
Rond., Coenosia attenuta Stein, C. tigrina Fall., Coenosia sp., Lispe pygmaea Fall., Musca
larvipara Portsch and M. tempestival Fall.

Recently, Al-Saffar (2003) studied the taxonomical aspects of this family in the Middle of
Iraq and the following three species are recorded for the first time as new records in Iraq:
Musca autumnalis De Geer, Atherigona leavigata (Loew) and A. theodori Hennig.

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of the fly species as their captured by
sticky traps near livestock in some provinces of Iraq.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Many samples were collected from sticky traps from Iraq State Board for Veterinary
Services during November 2010, Fly populations were monitored using 50 x 24.5 cm yellow
sticky traps (Starkeys products) Figure -1, traps consist of attractive lure which composed of
several chemicals as showed in table 1; these samples represent some areas of some provinces
of Iraq. The provinces were Baghdad (Tagi); Babylon (Alexandria); Najaf (Al-Kifal); Missan
(Ali Al-Gharbi); Nainava (Kokagi) and Diyala (Baqubah).

The flies were examined with the aid of dissecting microscope after removing them from
the traps by xylol. Then using keys for diagnosed them such as Pont (1991) and Al-Saffar
(2003), in addition the samples compared with specimens which kept at Iraq Natural History
Museum.

The temperature and relative humidity through this study obtained from Iraqi
meteorological office. The distribution or presence of flies was recorded.

Al-Saffar, et al

Figure 1: yellow sticky trap (Starkeys products)

Table 1: The composition of attractive lure used in the sticky trap

Amounts Compounds No.

12gm Benzoic acid 1

12 gm Indole 2

187 ml Sec- Butyl Alcohol 3

187 ml Iso- Butyl Alcohol 4

102 ml Acetic Acid (1.7N) 5

82 ml Butyric acid 6

82 ml Valeric acid 7

50 ml Phenol 8

50 ml P-cresol 9

187 Dimethyl Disulfid 10

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION:
The following species were captured in the sticky traps: Musca domestica, M. biseta M.
crassirostris, M. sorbens, Muscina stabulans, Atherigona orientalis, Atherigona sp. and
Limnophora quaterna, the last one appeared to be a new record for Iraq their prevalence,
temperatures and relative humidity were recorded in table 2.

Occurance of Adult Muscid Flies

Table-2: Species record of muscid flies which recorded in some provinces of Iraq through
November 2010

% RH%
Temp. oC

NO. Species Province
Max. Min.

4.88 46 27.7 10.1

69 Musca domestica
Baghdad

7 M. sorbens
10 Atherigona orientalis
8 Limnophora quaterna

48.33

49 27.8 11

779 Musca domestica

Babylon
143 M. sorbens

1 M. biseta
8 M. crassirostris

9.76 41 28.3 12.9

175 Musca domestica

Nijef
9 M. sorbens
3 M. crassirostris
1 M. biseta

9.98 51 29.4 12.2

140 Musca domestica
Missan 50 Muscina stabulans

2 Atherigona sp.

18.49 48 28.3 11.4

335 Musca domestica
Diyala 8 Muscina stabulans

13 Athrigona sp.

8.56 56 14.7 6.1
155 Musca domestica L.

Nainava
10 Muscina stabulans

Furthermore Table-2 showed the estimated total number of muscid flies during the month
of the study, the highest percentage of all collected species prevalence in Babylon (48.33%),
while the lowest percentage was in Baghdad (4.88%). Whereas in Nijef, Missan, Diyala, and
Nainava were (9.76, 9.98, 18.49, 8.56) % respectively. The provinces which showed the
lowest percentage of flies could be due to the dusty climate which caused lower fly catch
rates and indicated that dust accumulation on traps may reduced trap efficiency (Kaufman, et
al. 2001) and may be resulted in decreasing the activity of flies flying.

The survey showed that the house fly, Musca domestica was the predominant species and it
had the first ranked in overall prevalence in all provinces under studies (Figure 2). The house
fly was commonly found wherever man has established himself, therefore it can be found in
abundance at fisheries, slaughterhouses, garbage disposal sites, vegetable farms, market
places and poultry farms (Sulaiman et al., 1988). The high numbers of M. domestica recorded
in the current study was similar to previous studies of flies associated with waste in other
countries (Imai, 1985; Essa & El Sibae, 1993, Nurita et al. 2008). However, Goulson et al.
(1999) reported low proportions of M. domestica in flies emerging from garbage in landfills.

The abundance of collected species was: In Baghdad as the follows
Atherigona orientalis, Limnophora
as illustrated in table 2 and figure (3 A), this results in agreement with the results of
Abul-hab (1980); Aboul-hab and Ka
domestica and M. sorbens. These authors
they did not associated with carcasses but

In Babylon the collected species
and M. biseta., the percentage of these
collected species were Musca domestica
percentage of these species as in table 2 and figure (3 C). While in Missan
species were Musca domestica
these species as recorded in table 2 and figure (3 D).

In Diyala the collected species
stabulans, the percentage of these specie
collected species were Musca domestica
two species as illustrated in table 2 and figure (3 F).

Al-Saffar, et al

abundance of collected species was: In Baghdad as the follows Musca domestica,
, Limnophora quaterna, and M. sorbens, the percentage of these types

as illustrated in table 2 and figure (3 A), this results in agreement with the results of
hab and Kassal, (1998) and Abdul-Rassoul et al. (2009) for M.
. These authors could not recorded the other two species because

did not associated with carcasses but they were agricultural pests.

the collected species were Musca domestica L., M. sorbens, M. crassirostris,
the percentage of these species as in table 2 and figure (3 B). In Nijef the

Musca domestica L., M. sorbens, M. crassirostris, and M. biseta, the
as in table 2 and figure (3 C). While in Missan the collected

L., Muscina stabulans, and Atherigona sp., the percentage of
these species as recorded in table 2 and figure (3 D).

species were Musca domestica L., Athrigona sp. and Muscina
percentage of these species as in table 2 and figure (3 E). Finally in Nainava

Musca domestica and Muscina stabulans, only the percentage of these
two species as illustrated in table 2 and figure (3 F).

,
, the percentage of these types

as illustrated in table 2 and figure (3 A), this results in agreement with the results of
M.

could not recorded the other two species because

,
the
he

the collected
the percentage of

Muscina
in Nainava

the percentage of these

Occurance of Adult Muscid Flies

Al-Saffar, et al

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Al-Saffar, et al

Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus.
(2012) 10 (1): 1-9

دراسة التواجد لكامالت عائلة الذباب المنزلي على اللواصق الجاذبة في بعض
محافظات العراق

*و رزاق شعالن عكل *ھناء ھاني الصفار

*و محمد صالح عبد الرسول** علي بدريوحیدر
العراقيمتحف التاریخ الطبیعي *

قسم علوم الحیاة –كلیة العلوم –جامعة بغداد **

الخالصة

، استخدمت اللواصق الجاذبة الصفراء لجذب كامالت عائلة الذباب المنزلي
:حیث تم اصطیاد االنواع االتیة

Musca domestica L., M. biseta Hough, M. crassirostris Stein, M.
sorbens Wied., Muscina stabulans (Fallen), Atherigona orientalis
Schiner, Atherigona sp.

من عدة محافظات Limnophora quaterna (Loew) افة إلى النوعضا

سجلت محافظة بابل اعلى نسبة كلیة للذباب ، عراقیة طیلة شھر تشرین الثاني
و التي سجلت في ٤.٨٨%نسبة بینما كانت اوطأ ٤٨.٣٣ % حیث بلغت

على Musca domestica كما أكدت الدراسة على سیادة النوع. محافظة بغداد
ً M. bisetaباقي األنواع، أما النوع . فكان األقل تواجدا