Small vertebrate carrion and its use by blowflies (Calliphoridae) causing ovine myiasis (flystrike) in New Zealand

Abstract

Four species of Calliphoridae that are a primary cause of flystrike (Calliphora stygia; Lucilia sericata; L. cuprina; Chrysomya rufifacies) were bred out from carrion placed in pasture and shelter belt ecotopes. Only two of these species utilised carcases in the shelter belt, compared with all four in the pasture, but productivity was higher in the former. Overall, possum carcases were the most preferred breeding resource followed by magpie and blackbird, with mouse not used.The four primary blowfly species (= strikefly guild) comprised 71.6% of Diptera emerging from possums, 63% from magpies and 27% from blackbirds. Mouse carcases were utilised by other Diptera but not by strikeflies in this study. These results suggest that small animal carrion is an important breeding resource for blowflies that cause ovine myiasis in New Zealand.