Phoretic association between Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Acari: Macrochelidae) and flies inhabiting poultry manure in Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The phoretic association between Macrocheles muscaedomesticae and flies that inhabited poultry manure in a poultry farm in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia was studied. The effects of temperature, relative humidity and fly abundance on phoretic rates also were investigated. The most abundant fly species found was Musca domestica; Musca sorbens, Chrysomyia megacephala and Ophyra chalcogaster were present in relatively large numbers. Representatives of ten families of mites were found on collected Mu. domestica. The most common mite was Ma. muscaedomesticae (Macrochelidae), found on all four species of flies mentioned above. The highest infestation (2.0%) occurred on O. chalcogaster but Mu. domestica had the highest average number infested (5.7). The ventral part of the housefly's abdomen was the most common site of mite attachment. Usually only one mite was found attached per fly. The highest phoretic rate recorded was 64.4 Ma. muscaedomesticae per 1000 Mu. domestica. There was no correlation between phoretic rates and Ma. muscaedomesticae abundance, nor was relative humidity a factor. However, a positive correlation was recorded in this host species between phoretic rates and temperature.