Genetic diversity at electrophoretic loci in the house fly,Musca domestica L.

Vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to separate enzyme proteins at 73 putative loci in natural house fly populations sampled in central Iowa. Thirty-nine of the loci were polymorphic (53%). The mean effective number of alleles per polymorphic locus was 1.93 and 1.47 alleles among 68 scored loci. Observed and expected heterozygosities at 34 house fly loci were 0.1628 and 0.1834, respectively. No statistically significant differentiation was detected among nine central Iowa fly populations in 1989 or among nine Iowa and three Minnesota populations in 1990. Journal Paper No. J-14125 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames. Project No. 2949.     

Fine structure of the terminal organ of the house fly larva,Musca domestica L.

Summary The terminal organs of the cephalic lobes of the house fly larva, Musca domestica L., were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Six different types of sensilla were found: (1) papilla sensillum, (2) pit sensillum, (3) spot sensillum, (4) modified papilla sensillum, (5) knob sensillum, and (6) scolopidium. The papilla, pit, spot, and modified papilla sensilla have the essential structure of contact chemoreceptors, i.e., the unbranched dendritic tips are exposed externally through a single opening. However, a tubular body, which is a characteristic structure of tactile setae, is also present in some of the dendritic tips. We assume these sensilla serve a dual function—contact chemo- and mechanoreception. The role of the knob sensilla is obscure. The scolopidia present in the dorsal and the terminal organ are probably stress detectors. Two basal bodies occur in the dendritic ciliary region of all sensilla. Both of the basal bodies (except in the scolopidia) give rise to the distal ciliary microtubules as well as the proximal rootlets.This research was supported in part by the Office of Naval Research, PHS Research Grant EC-246 and NIH Training Grant ES-00069. Paper No. 3608 of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station journal series. The advise of R. A. Steinbrecht is gratefully acknowledged.     

Electrophoretic analysis of genetic variability in the house fly (Musca domestica L.)

Methods are described for the resolution of house fly, Musca domestica L., enzymes by vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. An electrophoretic survey in Ames, Iowa, of 51 loci distributed among 26 enzyme systems revealed that 40% of the loci are polymorphic. Observed and expected heterozygosities measured at 33 loci were 0.0981 and 0.1148, respectively. A significant deficiency of heterozygotes was noted at certain loci.Journal Paper No. J-11423 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames. Project No. 2411.     

Fine structure of the ventral organ of the house fly larva,Musca domestica L.

Summary The ventral organs of the cephalic lobes of the house fly larvae, Musca domestica L., were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Four sensilla were found. Three of them are each innervated by a single dendrite whose ending possesses a tubular body and communicates to the exterior through an opening. These sensilla are assumed to be mechanoreceptors. The 4th sensillum is supplied by 2 bipolar neurons with the unbranched dendritic tips (without tubular bodies) exposed to the exterior through a single opening and is probably a contact chemoreceptor.This research was supported in part by the Office of Naval Research and NIH Training Grant ES-00069. Paper no. 3724 of the North Carolina State University Agricultural Experiment Station journal series.     

Temporal and spatial trends in allozyme frequencies in house fly populations,Musca domestica L.

Summary Allelic and genotypic frequencies were sampled from a single age class of the common house fly, Musca domestica L., at five farms on six dates from July 6 to October 12, 1982. Allozymes at six loci were resolved with vertical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No consistent departures from random mating were detected. No consistent linkage disequilibrium was observed. Allele frequencies at the farms changed in independent and unpredictable ways. Gene frequencies at the five farms were initially divergent, converged in midsummer, and then progressively diverged. The divergence occured in mid-August when fly populations were large. Variation in gene frequencies at adjacent farms accounted for a large proportion of the variance in allele frequencies among all farms. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that allele frequencies in young adult flies reflected the habitat in which they matured as larvae.Journal Paper No. 11718 of the Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project No. 2411     

Morphometric variations in the housefly,Musca domestica (L.) with latitude

Morphologic analysis of geographic strains of Musca domestica carried out on natural and laboratory experiments starting with 400 and 800 eggs showed phenotypic variations related with latitude. Females of the natural populations showed clines for several morphological traits of the wing, whereas male flies showed a reduction in the dispersion measures (s ² and CV) of wing width and length. The same reduction was obtained for males, females and total number of flies of the natural populations in dispersion of the number of bristles on the fourth abdominal sternite. A significant negative correlation was observed for the head width of females and for the total number of flies emerged in the laboratory experiments started with 400 eggs. All flies produced by the experiments starting with 800 eggs showed a reduction in variability of dispersion of the bristles on the fourth abdominal sternite in the strains obtained from locations south of the area analyzed. Evolutionary aspects of these correlation coefficients between morphometric traits and latitude are discussed.     

The use of visual information by house flies,Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), foraging in resource patches

Summary House flies, Musca domestica, respond to visual contrasts on the substrate if a resource is associated with the contrasting patterns. Visible resource patch boundaries serve as a signal to flies that they are about to leave a rewarding patch. Searching flies respond to such visual information by walking along the resource patch boundary and turning back into the patch at its edge. This edge detection and response serve as a mechanism for flies with visual cues to stay in a rewarding patch and locate more resources within it. The intensity of their response correlates with the quality of the resource. In the absence of visual cues, patch shape affects foraging success; flies find more resources in circular than in linear resource distributions. The effects of visual cues, however, render patch shape unimportant. Various substrate contrasts are effective as resource information for flies: dark (e.g., green) figures on bright (e.g., white) backgrounds or bright figures on dark backgrounds. Responses to substrate contrasts measured in this study indicate that, over the short term, house flies can learn a visual cue associated with a food source.     

The organization of giant horizontal-motion-sensitive neurons and their synaptic relationships in the lateral deutocerebrum of Calliphora erythrocephala and Musca domestica

Summary Three giant horizontal-motion-sensitive (HS) neurons arise in the lobula plate. Their axons terminate ipsilaterally in the medial deutocerebrum and suboesophageal ganglion. Both Golgi impregnations and cobalt fills demonstrate that endings of the two HS cells, representing the upper and middle third of the retina, differ in shape and location from that of the HS cell subtending the lower third of the eye. This dichotomy is reflected by the terminals of a pair of centrifugal horizontal cells (CH), one of which invades lobula plate neuropil subtending the upper two-thirds of the retina. The other overlaps the dendrites of the HS cell subtending the lower one-third of the retina.The HS cells are cobalt-coupled to a variety of complexly arborizing descending neurons. In Musca domestica, gap-junction-like apposition areas have been observed between HS axon collaterals and descending neuron dendrites. The three HS cells also share conventional chemical synapses with postsynaptic elements, which include the dendritic spines of descending neurons. Unlike the giant vertical-motion-sensitive neurons of the lobula plate, whose relationships with descending neurons appear to be relatively simple, the horizontal cells end on a large number of descending neurons where they comprise one of several different populations of terminals. These descending neurons terminate within various centres of the thoracic ganglia, including neuropil supplying leg, neck, and flight muscle.     

The use of triflumuron on sugar-baited targets for autosterilization of the housefly, Musca domestica

A target system, capable of delivering an effective transovarial dose of the chitin synthesis inhibitor triflumuron to the house flyMusca domestica Linnaeus (Diptera: Muscidae), is described. A single 15×5 cm polyester target, dipped in triflumuron 10% suspension concentrate (s.c.) and 50% W/V sucrose solution and suspended in 30×30×30 cm cages of approximately 400 adultM. domestica for 24 h, reduced mean egg hatch to 47%. Egg hatch was reduced to 35% by allowing flies access to similar targets for 7 d. Exposure to triflumuron also interrupted the developmental cycle at the larval stage. After adultM. domestica had been exposed for 24 h to a target baited with 10% triflumuron s.c. and a 50% W/V sucrose solution, only 6% of eclosed larvae pupariated; longer exposure times prevented any pupariation. However, beyond pupariation, there appeared to be no further effect of triflumuron. The age of the flies at first exposure also affected the extent of the ovicidal and larvicidal effects induced, younger adults being more susceptible. However, effects were shown to decrease with time after exposure to triflumuron. A target dosed with 3% triflumuron s.c. resulted in a greater ovicidal effect than a target dosed with 10% triflumuron, suggesting that the higher doses were detected and elicited some negative response from the flies. Effects on females via the treatment of males were demonstrated. The results suggest that utilization of sugar-baited targets dosed with a low concentration of triflumuron may be a useful step in the development of autosterilizing systems for house fly control.     

A look into the cock-pit of the fly

Summary An anatomical investigation has been carried out on the third optic ganglion of the fly, Musca domestica. Two systems of giant units, the dendritic arborizations of which are arranged orthogonally relative to each other, dominate the neuropile of this ganglion. The elements of the two systems have been reconstructed using a graphical procedure based on histological sections. One system branches predominantly in the dorsoventral direction, the other one in the anterior-posterior direction. Both systems of the giant units have a twin system composed of elements smaller in diameter and strictly parallel to the main units. The two systems have been termed the Vertical and Horizontal Systems.The elements of the two systems of fibers project into the periesophageal region where they come into contact with other descending elements. Electron microscopic investigations show that the two systems are post-synaptic at the level of the ganglion from which they originate. The horizontal system has been shown to be post and pre-synaptic in nature during its course in the mid-brain and ultimately presynaptic at its endings in the periesophageal ring. The peculiar geometric arrangement of the two anatomical systems of fibers suggests a precise function in relation to the visual world and in particular to the detection of the direction of motion. The accuracy of the structural pattern displayed by the giant units in the lobular plate seems to suggest that this optic ganglion represents the ultimate orderly projection of the external world in the brain of the fly.A short review of the electrophysiological data concerning this ganglion has been tentatively correlated with some behavioral data related to the visual orientation and fixation in insects.     

Histamine-like immunoreactivity in photoreceptors of the compound eyes and ocelli of the flies Calliphora erythrocephala and Musca domestica

Summary Antibodies to histamine were used for immunocytochemical studies of the visual system in the flies Calliphora erythrocephala and Musca domestica. Specific immunolabeling of photoreceptors was found both in the compound eyes and ocelli of both species. In the compound eyes histamine-like immunoreactivity (HA-IR) was found in all the short visual fibers (photoreceptors R1–6) and one type of long visual fiber (photoreceptor R8). In addition, the ocellar photoreceptors also show HA-IR. In view of earlier biochemical and pharmacological/physiological findings by Elias and Evans (1983) and Hardie (1987) it thus seems likely that histamine is a neurotransmitter in insect photoreceptors. Interestingly, the second type of long visual fiber (photoreceptor R7) has recently been found to be GABA-immunoreactive (Datum et al. 1986). The two types of long visual fibers may hence use different transmitters which act on different receptors of the postsynaptic neurons in the second visual neuropil, the medulla. In addition to the photoreceptors in the retina and ocelli, we found processes of HA-IR neurons in one of the optic lobe neuropils, the lobula. This finding indicates that histamine may also be a transmitter in certain interneurons in the visual system.Abbreviations HA histamine - GABA -amino butyric acid - GAD glutamic acid decarboxylase - 5-HT 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) - HA-IR histamine-like immunoreactivity - R1-R6 class of short-axoned photoreceptors - R7 and R8 long-axoned photoreceptors - LMC large monopolar neuron of lamina - HSA human serum albumin - PBS phosphate-buffered saline - DEPC diethylpyrocarbonate     

Influence of sex and prior protein feeding on preferences by the housefly, Musca domestica, between sucrose solutions and solutions of l-leucine or sodium phosphate buffer

Comparisons were made of the preferences shown by non-protein-fed females, protein-fed gravid females, and non-protein-fed males of the house fly, given choices between sucrose solution and either l-leucine or sodium phosphate buffer.In choice tests where non-protein-fed females showed little preference, protein-fed females and males both showed a strong preference for the sucrose solution. The findings suggest that l-leucine and sodium phosphate buffer are recognised by non-protein-fed females as indicators of nutrients for ovarian development.

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Résumé Les choix alimentaires de 3 catégories de M. domestica: femelles n'ayant pas consommé de protéines, femelles à ovaires développés alimentées sur protéines, mâles n'ayant pas consommé de protéines, ont été examinés par leur absorption de solutions dans une paire de potomètres.Elles avaient le choix entre, d'une part une solution de sucrose et, d'autre part une solution de L. leucine ou d'un tampon de phosphate de soude.Pour les expériences où les femelles non préalablement alimentées sur protéines ne présentent aucune préférence, les femelles alimentées sur protéines et les mâles préfèrent nettement la solution de sucrose.Les résultats montrent que les femelles non alimentées sur protéines répondent plus que les femelles mûres et les mâles à la fois à la solution de L. leucine et au tampon de phosphate qu'au sucrose. Ceci suggère que l'impulsion sensorielle provoquée par ces deux breuvages est perçue par les femelles n'ayant pas consommé de protéines comme un indicateur d'aliments indispensables au développement ovarien.

     

Serotonin-immunoreactive and dopamine-immunoreactive neurones in the terminal ganglion of the cricket,Acheta domestica: Light- and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry

Summary The distribution and ultrastructure of serotonin- and dopamine-immunoreactive (5-HTi and DAi) neurones have been investigated in the terminal ganglion of the cricket, Acheta domestica, using a pre-embedding chopper technique. Special attention has been paid to the immunoreactive structures in the neuropil. 5-HTi structures are extensively distributed and densely packed throughout the 5 neuromeres of the terminal ganglion and originate from several interneurones and efferent neurones. In contrast, DAi fibres are distributed sparsely although they extend to all neuromeres of the ganglion and originate from 6 interneurons only. For both 5-HTi and DAi neurones characteristic axonal projections and branching patterns can be distinguished. The 5-HTi axons exhibit rich varicose arborizations, whereas DAi neurones possess fewer varicosities in the neuropil. Electron microscopy shows that 5-HTi varicosities contain small ( 60 nm) and large ( 100 nm) agranular vesicles, and large ( 100 nm) granular vesicles, whereas in DAi varicosities small ( 60 nm) agranular and large ( 100 nm) granular vesicles are seen. Both 5-HTi and DAi varicosities form synaptic contacts. We conclude that both serotonin and dopamine may be used as neurotransmitters in the terminal ganglion of the cricket.Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung     

Surface fine structure of the eye of the housefly (Musca domestica): Ommatidia and lamina ganglionaris

Summary The compound eye of the housefly, from lens to first optic neuropile (lamina ganglionaris) was examined with a scanning electron microscope. Key findings are as follows: The pseudocone cavity is enclosed by six corneal pigment cells. The nuclei of the six cells are firmly anchored to the underside of the lens and portions remain after lens delamination from the pseudocone cavity. An eccentrically-positioned, short photoreceptor cell was observed near the region where the inferior central cell initiates its rhabdom. This eminence may represent that cell's soma. The basement membrane is revealed as a two-tiered, fibrous layer with ovoid fenestrations. Each opening is sealed with a diaphragm perforated by eight retinular axons and a trachea. Conjoined distal surfaces of the satellite glial cells form a membrane-like barrier immediately underlying the basement membrane. Monopolar somata from the lamina are covered with glial cells which possibly make more intimate contact with the somata through miniscule projections. Optic cartridges with monopolar interneurons were noted. Spherical to slightly biconcave processes of these interneurons contact retinular axons. Very fine (1000 Å) filaments interweave among and contact lateral processes. Further implications are discussed as they relate to observed structures.We gratefully acknowledge research support from the Graduate School, University of Wisconsin, Project No. 140508. Mr. Jack Rozental kindly supplied an English translation of the Cajal and Sanchez (1915) treatise on the fly nervous system. Dr. N. J. Strausfeld, Max Planck Institut für biologische Kybernetik, Tübingen, graciously provided comments about the figures.     

Survey of Mariner-Like Elements in the Housefly, Musca Domestica

The presence of mariner-like elements in four strains of the housefly, Musca domestica, was surveyed by PCR. Using the inverted terminal repeat (ITR) sequences of the Mos 1element as primers, DNAs were successfully amplified from all strains of the housefly. Southern blot analysis indicated that these amplified DNAs were repetitive sequences in the genome of M. domestica. Sequence analyses of cloned PCR products showed that they were 45% identical to the Mos 1element. These fragments appeared to be nonfunctional, because they contained no intact open reading frame (ORF) capable of encoding transposase. We conclude that these DNAs are degraded mariner-like elements (MLEs) in M. domestica. Because these endogenous MLEs in M. domesticado not encode any functional proteins, they probably would not affect the behavior of mariner-based vectors if such were introduced into this species as transformation vectors.     

The effect of flickering U-V light output on the attractiveness of an insect electrocutor trap to the house-fly, Musca domestica

The ultraviolet lamps commonly used in insect electrocutor traps flicker at twice the mains AC frequency. A trap was modified to be powered from a flicker-free (DC) source. When house-flies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), were released in a test room containing one flickering and one non-flickering trap, 75% of the flies were caught by the trap with the flickering lamps. Mean intensities and emission spectra were identical. The trap with flickering lamps still caught more flies when the intensity of its lamps was lowered to half that of the DC-driven trap. The implications of these results for testing colour preference in attractant lamps are mentioned.

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Zusammenfassung Die ultravioletten Leuchtröhren, die oft in Lichtfallen zur Bekämpfung von Fluginsekten verwendet werden, flimmern bei der doppelten Frequenz des normalen Netzwechselstromes (d.h. 100 oder 120Hz). Dieses Flimmern ist bei den Insekten, die eine hohe Flimmerlichtverschmelzungsfrequenz haben, sichtbar. Das Ziel dieser Untersuchung war, festzustellen, ob die Flimmerfrequenz die Wirksammkeit der Lichtfalle beeinflusst. Eine Rentokil (Modell 143) Lichtfalle wurde umgebaut, damit sie von zwei 12V Autobatterien betrieben werden konnte, um ein flimmerfries Anlockungslicht zu erzeugen. Stubenfliegen wurden in einem 31,8 Kubikmeter grossen Testraum, worin eine nichtflimmernde und eine unmodifizierte, flimmernde Lichtfalle montiert waren, freigelassen. Bei Versuchen, wo die normale Zimmerbeleuchtungsröhren eingeschaltet waren, wurden 75% der Fliegen in der flimmernden Lichtfalle aufgefangenen. Durchschnittswerte für Lichtintensität Beleuchtungsflächen und Ausstrahlungspektrum blieben identisch. Als dieser Versuch im verdunkelten Raum wiederholt wurde, blieben die Verhältnisse der in den beiden Fallen aufgefangenen Fliegen, unverändert. Die Fangrate der Fallen war jedoch im dunklen Raum höher, weil es keine andere für die Fliegen anlockende Lichtquellen gab. Selbst bei der Hälfte der Lichtintensität der von Gleichstrom betriebenen Lichtfalle, wurden 61% der Fliegen in der nichtflimmernden Falle aufgefangen. (Alle Versuchsergebnisse waren statistisch signifikant.) Diese erhöhte Wirksamkeit blieb für beide Geschlechter gleich. Diese Beobachtung stimmt mit den ähnlichen Flimmerfrequenzwerten von männlichen und weiblichen Art Musca überein. Im Fall der Tsetsefliege sind die beiden Geschlechter verschieden flimmerempfindlich, und deswegen würde man Unterschiede in der Reaktion auf flimmernde Lichtfallen erwarten. Von Natur aus werden Fliegen der Art Musca von flimmerden Licht angelockt. Die Konsequenzen dieser Ergebnisse hinsichtlich der Untersuchung der Farbwahl der Anlockungslichtquellen werden in diser Veröfftentlichung erwaähnt.

     

Effect of the entomopathogenic fungus,Entomophthora muscae (Zygomycetes: Entomophthoraceae), on sex pheromone and other cuticular hydrocarbons of the house fly,Musca domestica

House fly (Musca domestica) males are highly attracted to dead female flies infected with the entomopathogenic fungus Entomophthora muscae. Because males orient to the larger abdomen of infected flies, both visual and chemical cues may be responsible for the heightened attraction to infected flies. Our behavioral assays demonstrated that the attraction is sex-specific-males were attracted more to infected females than to infected males, regardless of cadaver size. We examined the effect of E. muscae on the main component of the house fly sex pheromone, (Z)-9-tricosene, and other cuticular hydrocarbons including n-tricosane, n-pentacosane, (Z)-9-heptacosene, and total hydrocarbons of young (7 days old) and old (18 days old) virgin females. Young E. muscae-infected female flies accumulated significantly less sex pheromone and other hydrocarbons on their cuticular surface than uninfected females, whereas the cuticular hydrocarbons of older flies were unaffected by fungus infection. These results suggest that chemical cues other than (Z)-9-tricosene, visual cues other than abdomen size, or a combination of both sets of cues might be responsible for attraction of house fly males to E. muscae-infected females.     

The frontal ganglion of Periplaneta americana L. (insecta)

Summary The frontal ganglion, part of the stomatogastric nervous system, contains about 60 to 80 neurons, 25 to 30 m in diameter. A well developed Golgi system, producing dense-core vesicles, lysosomes, multivesicular bodies and dense bodies are abundant. Glia elements are sparsely distributed. Many nerve fibres contain granules of different size and electron density. Five groups of fibres can be distinguished: Fibres with granules of about 200 nm (type A), fibres with granules of about 160 to 170 nm (type B), fibres with granules of about 80 to 100 nm (type C) and those with synaptic vesicles of 50 nm (type D) respectively. A fifth very small type contains neither vesicles nor granules. Special attention was paid to synaptic contacts. The divergent dyad seems to be the main type in the frontal ganglion. Frequently, neurosecretory endings are observed in presynaptic position. Immunocytochemical staining of neurosecretory material closely corresponds to the distribution of type A fibres, as observed electron microscopically. Immunoelectrophoresis of extracts from frontal ganglia with polyspecific anti-neurosecretion-serum reveals a single precipitation line, indicating that the immunocytochemical localization of neurosecretory material is due to reaction with a specific as well as a crossreagent antibody.Supported by the Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Technik der DDRThe authors wish to thank Mrs. B. Cosack and Mrs. A. Schmidt for excellent technical assistance