The method by which Cephenemyia trompe (Modeer) larvae invade reindeer (Rangifer tarandus)

Laboratory electrostimulated C. trompe (Modeer) females forcefully expelled (sprayed) larvae for 5-20 cm. The watery spray consisted of about 20 tiny droplets containing two to several larvae. Crawling first-instar larvae exhibited negative geotactic and phototropic responses; they were subject to r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rangifer
Main Authors: Anderson, John R., Nilssen, Arne C.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Septentrio Academic Publishing 1990
Subjects:
Online Access:https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/rangifer/article/view/870
https://doi.org/10.7557/2.10.3.870
Description
Summary:Laboratory electrostimulated C. trompe (Modeer) females forcefully expelled (sprayed) larvae for 5-20 cm. The watery spray consisted of about 20 tiny droplets containing two to several larvae. Crawling first-instar larvae exhibited negative geotactic and phototropic responses; they were subject to rapid desiccation and became immobile as the tiny droplets dried within a few seconds. When 5-50 larvae from dissectedfemales were dropped in physiological saline onto different areas of the muzzle of restrained reindeer, only larvae placed deep within the nostrils and on the lips crawled out-of-sight down the nostril passage or into the mouth. Drops of larvae placed elsewhere quickly desiccated and the larvae became immobile. Larvae deposited by wild females onto a COz-baited reindeer model with the muzzle, lips and nostrils coated with insect trapping adhesive all were stuck only along the dorsal lip below the philtrum. All experimental evidence supports a natural per os mode of invasion.