Hydrotaea
Encyclopedia
Hydrotaea are insects located in most regions of the world, but are more populous in warmer climates. They are often found on excrement in summer months, and are therefore generally found in close proximity to livestock
. Among the 130 known species in this genus
, the most commonly recognized is the dump fly. This common name was given because of its ideal landing spot on fermenting feces. Along with many others in the family Muscidae
, Hydrotaea is of great forensic importance in both the economic and public health scene.
. Hydrotaea is very important to medicine and livestock as well as forensics.
. Many of these are of forensic importance. Some of the more common species include:
e of this genus
are often dimorphic
obligative carnivore
s, meaning that the second and third instar
s are predators. This ranges depending on the species, some are carnivorous in all three instars. However, regardless of the species, all final instar larvae are always carnivorous with some strongly cannibalistic. Their growth varies with the smallest being under 6 mm and the largest being up to 16 mm. Their abdomen has ventral welts and large spiracles with sinuate
slits. They prefer to live in areas with high bacterial fermentation, so they are often found in vegetation or feces. Most species prefer to lay eggs in pastures and in long grass.
Adults are mostly sweat flies and dump flies that strongly prefer mammal
blood. They are able to reopen wounds that are almost completely healed. Mouthparts range from mainly sponging mouthparts to some with rasping teeth. Many have enlarged prestomal teeth. The metathoracic
spiracle
is covered in thick, long setae and is rounded triangularly. The average size for the genus is 6.5-8.5 mm for males and 5.75-7.5 mm for females. They range from a very light brown to bluish black with large, red eyes and plumose antennae
.
, Europe
, Asia
, and Australia
. They are most commonly found in urban
settings. They prefer fermenting
areas so they are often found in vegetation
, feces
, or decomposing carcasses
. It is a tertiary strike fly, so it is only seen on bodies that have been dead more than ten days.
. Mature flies will seek out decaying substances, preferably material in which an extended amount of time has elapsed since death. This trait is key in aiding forensic entomologists in the area. Masses of maggot
s, which are often characteristic of other species of flies, is not typical of H. rostrata. The larvae of this species can be divided in three stages, or instar
s, which is then followed by the formation of a pupa
. After this event, the larvae will become mature flies. The whole process takes between 518.4 and 1555.6 hours according to one study in Australia, performed by IR Dadour, D.F. Cook, and N. Wirth, who reared the insects starting from eggs
under varying environmental conditions. The warmer summer-like temperatures, 25 °C (77 °F) and 19–30 °C (66.2–86 F), tended to favor a shorter period of time to adulthood, on estimate 21.6 and 23.5 days. In contrast, the cooler winter-like temperatures, 15 °C (59 °F) and 12–18 °C (53.6–64.4 F), favored a longer period of time to adulthood, on estimate 64.5 and 48.3 days.
The larvae of another species of Hydrotaea, H. aenescens has actually been incorporated into agricultural life in certain scenarios. This insect, also known as the black dump fly, has larvae which tend to inhabit fecal material and are capable of consuming other larvae in the vicinity as a source of nourishment. The larvae attacked are notably that of Musca domestica
, the housefly. Thus, farming establishments wishing to utilize this larval trait to their advantage are able to purchase the insects for their operation
This fly larva, aside from uses in the agricultural community is considered relevant in the field of forensic entomology
as it commonly located right below corpses
.
On an interesting side note in the realm of larvae, the larvae of flies such as Hydrotaea irratitans are known to be cannibalistic
and are capable of seeking shelter underground to survive cold conditions.
, a bovine infection that can be caused by multiple suspected bacteria
. The aforementioned research allowed flies doctored with select bacteria from a sample representing summer mastitis to come in contact with the udder
region of cattle
which had been nicked for the study. In order to accomplish this, flies were placed in specialized cage-like devices that were attached to the udder region of the cattle. The selected bacteria
appeared in the secretions produced from this experiment in a few of the cows used, as well as on the physical bodies of a little over a third of the doctored flies. Among the bacteria found in the fluid obtained, thus carried by H. irritans were
It should be noted that cows are not the sole victim of H. irritans, as this fly is also known to target many other warm-blooded animals as well, human
s included.
Aside from H. irritans, another species of Hydrotaea, H. aenescens, is also reported to carry Salmonella serovar infantis, as well.
of Hydrotaea sp. that any other fly species would not have in common. However, Hydrotaea aenescens can be very useful to have around a manure
habitat, which they naturally inhabit because Hydrotaea aenescens kill house fly larvae.
.
This indicates that it arrives on scene after much decay and decomposition has occurred and it succeeds several other species. When Hydrotaea is found during an investigation it is usually a sign that the corpse was not burned and that the Calliphoridae
species, or blow fly, phase has been completed.
Hydrotaea sp. can be facultative predators in their second and third instars, this means that they can feed on one another or other fly species that precede them, such as the blow fly. This is important to the investigators because they must include additional time to the PMI since the Hydrotaea sp. may have eaten flies or larvae that preceded their arrival. Every hour in the PMI is significant because the difference in one hour of death could change the cause of death.
verification along with determining if a body was relocated. Current research into Hydrotaea spinigera has come to show that it makes up roughly seventy percent of the Muscidae
found on a body that is discovered in a forest
region. Along with this, Hydrotaea rostrata was found to arrive at a decomposing body on the second day of decay, once the body started to decay, and stayed for a duration of thirty four days, or until the body had reached a skeleton
state of decomposition. The research of Hydrotaea irritans and the spread of mastitis
as it pertains to live stock is also a point of interest as mentioned above.
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
. Among the 130 known species in this genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
, the most commonly recognized is the dump fly. This common name was given because of its ideal landing spot on fermenting feces. Along with many others in the family Muscidae
Muscidae
Muscidae are a family of flies found in the superfamily Muscoidea. The apical segment of the antennae of Muscidae are plumose, and the basal portion is smooth....
, Hydrotaea is of great forensic importance in both the economic and public health scene.
Certain Hydrotaea species have been proven to carry and transmit certain diseases to warm blooded animals, including humans. Researchers continue to monitor these vectors of disease as they have been connected with the spread of mastitis
“Many authorities consider Diptera to be the most important order to medical/veterinary entomologyEntomologyEntomology is the scientific study of insects, a branch of arthropodology...
."
Mastitis
Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue. S. aureus is the most common etiological organism responsible, but S. epidermidis and streptococci are occasionally isolated as well.-Terminology:...
. Hydrotaea is very important to medicine and livestock as well as forensics.
Species
There are 130 known species in this genus from the family MuscidaeMuscidae
Muscidae are a family of flies found in the superfamily Muscoidea. The apical segment of the antennae of Muscidae are plumose, and the basal portion is smooth....
. Many of these are of forensic importance. Some of the more common species include:
- H. acuta SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1898 - H. aenescens (WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann , was a German physician, historian, naturalist and entomologist...
, 1830) - H. albipuncta (ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm Zetterstedt was a Swedish naturalist who worked mainly on Diptera and Hymenoptera.-Biography:Zetterstedt studied at the University of Lund, where he was a pupil of Anders Jahan Retzius. He received the title of professor in 1822 and succeeded Carl Adolph Agardh as professor of botany...
, 1845) - H. anxia (ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm Zetterstedt was a Swedish naturalist who worked mainly on Diptera and Hymenoptera.-Biography:Zetterstedt studied at the University of Lund, where he was a pupil of Anders Jahan Retzius. He received the title of professor in 1822 and succeeded Carl Adolph Agardh as professor of botany...
, 1838) - H. armipes (FallénCarl Fredrik FallénCarl Fredrik Fallén was a Swedish botanist and entomologist.Fallén taught at the Lund University. He wrote Diptera Sueciae .In 1817, Fallen discovered the Muscina stabulans species of flies....
, 1825) - H. atrisquama Ringdahl, 1925
- H. australis MallochJohn Russell MallochJohn Russell Malloch was a Scottish entomologist who specialised in Diptera.In 1910 he emigrated to Urbana, Illinois, United States.-References:See...
, 1923 - H. basdeni CollinJames Edward CollinJames Edward Collin was an English entomologist who specialised in Diptera.He was the author of Empididae. British Flies, Volume 6. University Press, Cambridge...
, 1939 - H. borussica SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1899 - H. capensis (WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann , was a German physician, historian, naturalist and entomologist...
, 1818) - H. chalcogaster (WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann , was a German physician, historian, naturalist and entomologist...
, 1824) - H. cinerea Robineau-DesvoidyJean-Baptiste Robineau-DesvoidyAndré Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
, 1830 - H. cristata MallochJohn Russell MallochJohn Russell Malloch was a Scottish entomologist who specialised in Diptera.In 1910 he emigrated to Urbana, Illinois, United States.-References:See...
, 1918 - H. cyrtoneurina (ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm Zetterstedt was a Swedish naturalist who worked mainly on Diptera and Hymenoptera.-Biography:Zetterstedt studied at the University of Lund, where he was a pupil of Anders Jahan Retzius. He received the title of professor in 1822 and succeeded Carl Adolph Agardh as professor of botany...
, 1845) - H. dentipesHydrotaea dentipesHydrotaea dentipes is a fly from the family Muscidae....
(FabriciusJohan Christian FabriciusJohan Christian Fabricius was a Danish zoologist, specialising in "Insecta", which at that time included all arthropods: insects, arachnids, crustaceans and others...
, 1805) - H. depressa Huckett, 1954
- H. diabolus (HarrisMoses HarrisMoses Harris was an English entomologist and engraver.In the Natural System of Colours he examined the work of Isaac Newton and tried to reveal the multitude of colours which can be created from three basic ones...
, 1780) - H. floccosa MacquartJustin Pierre Marie MacquartJustin Pierre Marie Macquart was a French entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera. He worked on world species as well as European and described many new species.-Early years:...
, 1835 - H. glabricula (FallénCarl Fredrik FallénCarl Fredrik Fallén was a Swedish botanist and entomologist.Fallén taught at the Lund University. He wrote Diptera Sueciae .In 1817, Fallen discovered the Muscina stabulans species of flies....
, 1825) - H. hennigi Pont, 1986
- H. hirticeps (FallénCarl Fredrik FallénCarl Fredrik Fallén was a Swedish botanist and entomologist.Fallén taught at the Lund University. He wrote Diptera Sueciae .In 1817, Fallen discovered the Muscina stabulans species of flies....
, 1824) - H. hirtipes (MallochJohn Russell MallochJohn Russell Malloch was a Scottish entomologist who specialised in Diptera.In 1910 he emigrated to Urbana, Illinois, United States.-References:See...
, 1924) - H. houghi MallochJohn Russell MallochJohn Russell Malloch was a Scottish entomologist who specialised in Diptera.In 1910 he emigrated to Urbana, Illinois, United States.-References:See...
, 1916 - H. ignava (HarrisMoses HarrisMoses Harris was an English entomologist and engraver.In the Natural System of Colours he examined the work of Isaac Newton and tried to reveal the multitude of colours which can be created from three basic ones...
, 1780) - H. irritans (FallénCarl Fredrik FallénCarl Fredrik Fallén was a Swedish botanist and entomologist.Fallén taught at the Lund University. He wrote Diptera Sueciae .In 1817, Fallen discovered the Muscina stabulans species of flies....
, 1823)
- H. lasiophthalma MallochJohn Russell MallochJohn Russell Malloch was a Scottish entomologist who specialised in Diptera.In 1910 he emigrated to Urbana, Illinois, United States.-References:See...
, 1919 - H. lundbecki (Michelsen, 1978)
- H. meridionalis Porschinskiy, 1882
- H. meteorica (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1758Systema NaturaeThe book was one of the major works of the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician Carolus Linnaeus. The first edition was published in 1735...
) - H. militaris (MeigenJohann Wilhelm MeigenJohann Wilhelm Meigen was a German entomologist famous for his pioneering work on Diptera.-Early years:Meigen was born in Solingen, the fifth of eight children of Johann Clemens Meigen and Sibylla Margaretha Bick. His parents, though not poor, were not wealthy either. The ran a small shop in...
, 1826) - H. nidicola MallochJohn Russell MallochJohn Russell Malloch was a Scottish entomologist who specialised in Diptera.In 1910 he emigrated to Urbana, Illinois, United States.-References:See...
, 1925 - H. obscurifrons (Sabrosky, 1949)
- H. palaestrica (MeigenJohann Wilhelm MeigenJohann Wilhelm Meigen was a German entomologist famous for his pioneering work on Diptera.-Early years:Meigen was born in Solingen, the fifth of eight children of Johann Clemens Meigen and Sibylla Margaretha Bick. His parents, though not poor, were not wealthy either. The ran a small shop in...
, 1826) - H. pallicornis Pont, 1973
- H. pandellei SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1899 - H. parva Meade, 1889
- H. pellucens Porchinskiy, 1879
- H. penicillata (RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
, 1866) - H. pilipes SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1903 - H. pilitibia SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1916 - H. ringdahli SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1916 - H. rostrata Robineau-DesvoidyJean-Baptiste Robineau-DesvoidyAndré Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
, 1830 - H. scambus (ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm ZetterstedtJohan Wilhelm Zetterstedt was a Swedish naturalist who worked mainly on Diptera and Hymenoptera.-Biography:Zetterstedt studied at the University of Lund, where he was a pupil of Anders Jahan Retzius. He received the title of professor in 1822 and succeeded Carl Adolph Agardh as professor of botany...
, 1838) - H. similis Meade, 1887
- H. spinifemorata Huckett, 1954
- H. spinigera SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1910 - H. tersa (WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm WiedemannChristian Rudolph Wilhelm Wiedemann , was a German physician, historian, naturalist and entomologist...
, 1830) - H. tuberculata RóndaniCamillo RóndaniCamillo Róndani was an Italian entomologist noted for his studies of Diptera.-Early years:When Camillo Róndani was born in Parma the city was part of the French Empire Napoleon having crowned himself King of Italy...
, 1866 - H. unispinosa SteinPaul Stein (entomologist)Paul Stein was a German museum curator and entomologist . He specialised in Diptera especially the family Anthomyiidae. In this group he studied the world fauna describing many new genera and species....
, 1898 - H. velutina Robineau-DesvoidyJean-Baptiste Robineau-DesvoidyAndré Jean Baptiste Robineau-Desvoidy was a French physician and entomologist specialising in the study of Diptera and to some extent of the Coleoptera .-Achievements:...
, 1830
Physical description
LarvaLarva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
e of this genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
are often dimorphic
Polymorphism (biology)
Polymorphism in biology occurs when two or more clearly different phenotypes exist in the same population of a species — in other words, the occurrence of more than one form or morph...
obligative carnivore
Carnivore
A carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of animal tissue, whether through predation or scavenging...
s, meaning that the second and third instar
Instar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
s are predators. This ranges depending on the species, some are carnivorous in all three instars. However, regardless of the species, all final instar larvae are always carnivorous with some strongly cannibalistic. Their growth varies with the smallest being under 6 mm and the largest being up to 16 mm. Their abdomen has ventral welts and large spiracles with sinuate
Sinuous
Sinuous is a fictional snake from the third season of the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann....
slits. They prefer to live in areas with high bacterial fermentation, so they are often found in vegetation or feces. Most species prefer to lay eggs in pastures and in long grass.
Adults are mostly sweat flies and dump flies that strongly prefer mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
blood. They are able to reopen wounds that are almost completely healed. Mouthparts range from mainly sponging mouthparts to some with rasping teeth. Many have enlarged prestomal teeth. The metathoracic
Metathorax
The metathorax is the posterior of the three segments in the thorax of an insect, and bears the third pair of legs. Its principal sclerites are the metanotum , the metasternum , and the metapleuron on each side...
spiracle
Spiracle
Spiracles are openings on the surface of some animals that usually lead to respiratory systems.-Vertebrates:The spiracle is a small hole behind each eye that opens to the mouth in some fishes. In the primitive jawless fish the first gill opening immediately behind the mouth is essentially similar...
is covered in thick, long setae and is rounded triangularly. The average size for the genus is 6.5-8.5 mm for males and 5.75-7.5 mm for females. They range from a very light brown to bluish black with large, red eyes and plumose antennae
Antenna (biology)
Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....
.
Habitat
Flies in this genus are found in the warmer parts of North and South AmericaSouth America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. They are most commonly found in urban
Urban area
An urban area is characterized by higher population density and vast human features in comparison to areas surrounding it. Urban areas may be cities, towns or conurbations, but the term is not commonly extended to rural settlements such as villages and hamlets.Urban areas are created and further...
settings. They prefer fermenting
Fermentation (biochemistry)
Fermentation is the process of extracting energy from the oxidation of organic compounds, such as carbohydrates, using an endogenous electron acceptor, which is usually an organic compound. In contrast, respiration is where electrons are donated to an exogenous electron acceptor, such as oxygen,...
areas so they are often found in vegetation
Vegetation
Vegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
, feces
Feces
Feces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
, or decomposing carcasses
Carrion
Carrion refers to the carcass of a dead animal. Carrion is an important food source for large carnivores and omnivores in most ecosystems. Examples of carrion-eaters include vultures, hawks, eagles, hyenas, Virginia Opossum, Tasmanian Devils, coyotes, Komodo dragons, and burying beetles...
. It is a tertiary strike fly, so it is only seen on bodies that have been dead more than ten days.
Life cycle
Research has been performed on this insect’s lifecycle, namely Hydrotaea rostrata, in an attempt to better understand the time elapsed in crime related situations in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Mature flies will seek out decaying substances, preferably material in which an extended amount of time has elapsed since death. This trait is key in aiding forensic entomologists in the area. Masses of maggot
Maggot
In everyday speech the word maggot means the larva of a fly ; it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachyceran flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and Crane flies...
s, which are often characteristic of other species of flies, is not typical of H. rostrata. The larvae of this species can be divided in three stages, or instar
Instar
An instar is a developmental stage of arthropods, such as insects, between each molt , until sexual maturity is reached. Arthropods must shed the exoskeleton in order to grow or assume a new form. Differences between instars can often be seen in altered body proportions, colors, patterns, or...
s, which is then followed by the formation of a pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
. After this event, the larvae will become mature flies. The whole process takes between 518.4 and 1555.6 hours according to one study in Australia, performed by IR Dadour, D.F. Cook, and N. Wirth, who reared the insects starting from eggs
Egg (biology)
An egg is an organic vessel in which an embryo first begins to develop. In most birds, reptiles, insects, molluscs, fish, and monotremes, an egg is the zygote, resulting from fertilization of the ovum, which is expelled from the body and permitted to develop outside the body until the developing...
under varying environmental conditions. The warmer summer-like temperatures, 25 °C (77 °F) and 19–30 °C (66.2–86 F), tended to favor a shorter period of time to adulthood, on estimate 21.6 and 23.5 days. In contrast, the cooler winter-like temperatures, 15 °C (59 °F) and 12–18 °C (53.6–64.4 F), favored a longer period of time to adulthood, on estimate 64.5 and 48.3 days.
The larvae of another species of Hydrotaea, H. aenescens has actually been incorporated into agricultural life in certain scenarios. This insect, also known as the black dump fly, has larvae which tend to inhabit fecal material and are capable of consuming other larvae in the vicinity as a source of nourishment. The larvae attacked are notably that of Musca domestica
Housefly
The housefly , Musca domestica, is a fly of the suborder Cyclorrhapha...
, the housefly. Thus, farming establishments wishing to utilize this larval trait to their advantage are able to purchase the insects for their operation
This fly larva, aside from uses in the agricultural community is considered relevant in the field of forensic entomology
Forensic entomology
Forensic entomology is the application and study of insect and other arthropod biology to criminal matters. It is primarily associated with death investigations; however, it may also be used to detect drugs and poisons, determine the location of an incident, and find the presence and time of the...
as it commonly located right below corpses
Cadaver
A cadaver is a dead human body.Cadaver may also refer to:* Cadaver tomb, tomb featuring an effigy in the form of a decomposing body* Cadaver , a video game* cadaver A command-line WebDAV client for Unix....
.
On an interesting side note in the realm of larvae, the larvae of flies such as Hydrotaea irratitans are known to be cannibalistic
Cannibalism (zoology)
In zoology, cannibalism is the act of one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded for more than 1500 species...
and are capable of seeking shelter underground to survive cold conditions.
Associated pathogens
Research has incriminated Hydrotaea irritans as a vector of summer mastitisMastitis
Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue. S. aureus is the most common etiological organism responsible, but S. epidermidis and streptococci are occasionally isolated as well.-Terminology:...
, a bovine infection that can be caused by multiple suspected bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
. The aforementioned research allowed flies doctored with select bacteria from a sample representing summer mastitis to come in contact with the udder
Udder
An udder is an organ formed of the mammary glands of female quadruped mammals, especially ruminants such as cattle, goats, sheep and deer. The udder is a single mass hanging beneath the animal, consisting of pairs of mammary glands...
region of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
which had been nicked for the study. In order to accomplish this, flies were placed in specialized cage-like devices that were attached to the udder region of the cattle. The selected bacteria
Bacteria
Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...
appeared in the secretions produced from this experiment in a few of the cows used, as well as on the physical bodies of a little over a third of the doctored flies. Among the bacteria found in the fluid obtained, thus carried by H. irritans were
- Staphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureusStaphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium. It is frequently found as part of the normal skin flora on the skin and nasal passages. It is estimated that 20% of the human population are long-term carriers of S. aureus. S. aureus is the most common species of...
- Streptococcus dysgalactiaeStreptococcus dysgalactiaeStreptococcus dysgalactiae is a species of Streptococcus.Streptococcus dysgalactiae is known to cause mastitis in cows, ewes and goat does and polyarthritis in lambs....
- Streptococcus uberisStreptococcus uberisStreptococcus uberis is a species of Streptococcus....
- Streptococcus agalactiaeStreptococcus agalactiaeStreptococcus agalactiae is a beta-hemolytic Gram-positive streptococcus.- Identification :The CAMP test is an important test for identification...
- Actinomyces pyogenes
- Peptococcus indolicus
- Fusobacterium necrophorium
It should be noted that cows are not the sole victim of H. irritans, as this fly is also known to target many other warm-blooded animals as well, human
Human
Humans are the only living species in the Homo genus...
s included.
Aside from H. irritans, another species of Hydrotaea, H. aenescens, is also reported to carry Salmonella serovar infantis, as well.
Predators
There are no predatorsPredation
In ecology, predation describes a biological interaction where a predator feeds on its prey . Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them, but the act of predation always results in the death of its prey and the eventual absorption of the prey's tissue through consumption...
of Hydrotaea sp. that any other fly species would not have in common. However, Hydrotaea aenescens can be very useful to have around a manure
Manure
Manure is organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil...
habitat, which they naturally inhabit because Hydrotaea aenescens kill house fly larvae.
Forensic importance
Hydrotaea species have been helpful in forensic cases worldwide by allowing identification of the post-mortem interval (PMI), in multiple noted cases. This particular species typically arrives to the scene 4–5 months after a carcass has begun great decompositionDecomposition
Decomposition is the process by which organic material is broken down into simpler forms of matter. The process is essential for recycling the finite matter that occupies physical space in the biome. Bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death...
.
This indicates that it arrives on scene after much decay and decomposition has occurred and it succeeds several other species. When Hydrotaea is found during an investigation it is usually a sign that the corpse was not burned and that the Calliphoridae
Blow-fly
Calliphoridae are insects in the Order Diptera, family Calliphoridae...
species, or blow fly, phase has been completed.
Hydrotaea sp. can be facultative predators in their second and third instars, this means that they can feed on one another or other fly species that precede them, such as the blow fly. This is important to the investigators because they must include additional time to the PMI since the Hydrotaea sp. may have eaten flies or larvae that preceded their arrival. Every hour in the PMI is significant because the difference in one hour of death could change the cause of death.
Ongoing research
For this species, there is no future research being done at the moment. As of now however, Hydrotaea sp. can be used to identify drugDrug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
verification along with determining if a body was relocated. Current research into Hydrotaea spinigera has come to show that it makes up roughly seventy percent of the Muscidae
Muscidae
Muscidae are a family of flies found in the superfamily Muscoidea. The apical segment of the antennae of Muscidae are plumose, and the basal portion is smooth....
found on a body that is discovered in a forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
region. Along with this, Hydrotaea rostrata was found to arrive at a decomposing body on the second day of decay, once the body started to decay, and stayed for a duration of thirty four days, or until the body had reached a skeleton
Skeleton
The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can...
state of decomposition. The research of Hydrotaea irritans and the spread of mastitis
Mastitis
Mastitis is the inflammation of breast tissue. S. aureus is the most common etiological organism responsible, but S. epidermidis and streptococci are occasionally isolated as well.-Terminology:...
as it pertains to live stock is also a point of interest as mentioned above.