Investigating the relative importance of reflective intensity, colour, and polarization characteristics of visual cues for stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, attraction

Monday, November 14, 2022

9:12 AM – 9:24 AM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 201

Presenting Author(s)

SH

Sophie Hennig

Student
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Co-Author(s)

Emmanuel Hung

MPM Student
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
ST

Sonali Timmath

Student
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Adam J. Blake

Postdoctoral Researcher
University of Washington
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
GG

Gerhard Gries

Professor
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Visually attractive traps have long been utilized for the monitoring and control of biting flies. Trapping of the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans, has previously been achieved using netted or sticky traps constructed with blue and black fabric, Alsynite panels and, more recently, white coroplast cards as visual attractants. The variety of attractive materials, and the seemingly context-dependent efficacy of some, have rendered the underlying mechanisms by which stable flies seek visual targets largely inconclusive. For example, reportedly effective visual traps range greatly in reflective intensity, colour, and (presumably) polarization characteristics. Our study aims to tease apart the relative importance of the visual characteristics that contribute to the attraction of host-foraging stable flies. While all characteristics of visual targets play some role, our data indicate that some visual characteristics are more important than others. At the time that abstract submission was due, data collections were ongoing.