Dj. Kok et al., A METHOD FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF BLACKFLY (DIPTERA, SIMULIIDAE) ATTRACTION TO AND ENGORGEMENT ON SHEEP IN SOUTH-AFRICA, Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research, 61(1), 1994, pp. 7-11
A suspended-net technique was used to capture blackflies attracted to
and engorging on Dorper and Merino sheep on irrigated pastures. Two ba
it animals of each breed were restrained individually in wire-mesh enc
losures located within four larger pens, each containing nine more ani
mals of the same breed. Nets were suspended partly over the restrained
animals and blackflies were collected at the end of 2-hour or longer
periods. Mean numbers of blackflies captured in association with Merin
o (73,3/h) and Dorper sheep (89,1/h) did not differ significantly. Num
bers of captured blackflies correlated (rho = 0,8361) with levels of i
rritation shown by sheep. Engorgement on Merinos was significantly (p
= 0,009) higher than on Dorpers. Percentage engorgement was low, mostl
y below 10% on Merinos and below 5% on Dorpers. When high wind speeds
and high saturation deficits (associated with temperatures in the mid-
thirties) occurred, the success of capture was impaired. The technique
is useful for quantifying the abundance of irritating blackflies in t
he immediate proximity of smallstock under experimental conditions.