September 28, 2025

Diversity, Seasonal Incidence and Diel Activity Pattern of Muscid Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) of Medico-Veterinary Significance from the Gangetic Plains of West Bengal

DGDebjani GhoshMinistry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change ANAtanu NaskarMinistry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change DBDhriti BanerjeeMinistry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change

Key Points

Muscid flies were diverse, with 27 species identified, including key blood-feeders like Stomoxys calcitrans.
Peak incidence of biting flies was observed during monsoon months, impacting local health dynamics.
Observation of diel activity showed S. calcitrans active between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, influencing management practices.
Establishment of a comprehensive database aids in improving vector control strategies for rural economies dependent on cattle.

Abstract

Flies belonging to family Muscidae have gained global prominence due to their role in the dissemination of several life-threatening diseases to both humans and animals alike. While promising studies have been conducted to assess the ecology of other biting dipterans, like-Culicidae, Ceratopogonidae, and Tabanidae, in the study area, comprehensive knowledge regarding muscids remains insufficient. In this study, a total of 21 study sites were designated in the lower Gangetic plains of West Bengal, from which specimens were collected using both active and passive sampling methods from October 2022 to September 2023. A total of 27 species of muscids under 7 genera were procured, of which 11 were found to be obligate blood-feeders. Stomoxys calcitrans had the highest capture rate (44.78%), followed by Stomoxys sitiens (8.37%) and Musca crassirostris (8.06%). Among the non-biting flies, Musca domestica was the most frequently trapped species (8.84%), followed by Musca ventrosa (3.8%) and Musca sorbens (2.01%). Although the incidence of biting flies peaked during the monsoon, no such trend was observed for the non-biting flies. The incidence of the most abundant species, S. calcitrans, remained consistent across the sites throughout each season, while other biting flies demonstrated variability in capture rates across different sites and seasons. Additionally, the activity pattern of the most abundant species of biting flies were monitored on a 12-hour basis (6:00 am to 6:00 pm), where S. calcitrans exhibited peaks between 9:00 am and 11:00 am, while the other two species of biting flies displayed peaks between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, on the days of collection. As the rural economy of the study area heavily relies on cattle-based farms, this study aims to establish a much-needed database on the diversity, seasonality and temporal dynamics of muscids, which will help policymakers in the development and implementation of better vector control strategies.

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