Musca xanthomelas
| Musca xanthomelas | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Diptera |
| Family: | Muscidae |
| Genus: | Musca |
| Species: | M. xanthomelas
|
| Binomial name | |
| Musca xanthomelas Wiedemann, 1824
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Musca xanthomelas is a species of fly belonging to the taxonomic tribe Muscini. It is widespread across Africa[1] from the eastern to southern regions.[2] It feeds on dung, especially from cattle and a variety of other sources such as tears from wildebeest.
Female members of this species at intervals of about 5 days can lay up to 4 batches of eggs with as many as 33 eggs per batch. A single female can produce a maximum of 94 eggs.[3]
Epidemiology
They are able to get infected from Alcelaphinae herpes virus 1 (AHV-1) from infected wildebeest. The virus however are not able to be transferred to cattle of rabbits. This lack of transmission may be due to their reluctance to feed on their tears after having a protein rich meal from the wildebeest.[4]
References
- ^ "Nomenclator Detail Record". www.diptera.org. Retrieved 2025-12-24.
- ^ "Catalogue of Life". 2011-01-06.
- ^ Nevill, E. M.; Sutherland, B. (December 1987). "The colonization and life-cycles of Musca lusoria, Musca xanthomelas and Musca nevilli, vectors of Parafilaria bovicola in South Africa". The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research. 54 (4): 607–611. ISSN 0030-2465. PMID 3444617.
- ^ Barnard, B. J.; Bengis, R. G.; Voges, S. F. (March 1990). "Epidemiology of wildebeest-derived malignant catarrhal fever in South Africa: inability to transfer the disease with an African face fly Musca xanthomelas (Diptera: Muscidae)". The Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research. 57 (1): 89–93. ISSN 0030-2465. PMID 2339002.