Microbe-mediated attraction of stable flies to host cattle

Stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, are severe blood-feeding pests of livestock (cattle) but little is known about the cattle semiochemicals that attract the flies to their host. We tested the hypothesis that cattle skin microbiota and their semiochemicals, respectively, play a role in fly attraction. Cotton swabs were taken from the hide of a freshly slaughtered cow, and from a live calf, and plated on different types of agar. Microbial strains were then isolated by re-streaking and were identified by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight – Mass Spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF MS) or by genetic sequencing. In two-choice behavioral bioassays, flies preferred a number of single strain microbes growing on agar to control agar. By the time of the abstract submission deadline, research is underway to investigate the role of these microbes in large scale settings such as a greenhouse compartment and in livestock production facilities. Research is also underway to identify the microbe-derived semiochemicals that mediate the attraction of flies.