Incidence of Myiasis and bionomics of cyclorrhaphan flies in small ruminants of Jammu

A study was conducted to determine the incidence of myiasis and bionomics of cyclorrhaphan flies in small ruminants of Jammu. Sheep and goats (10 each) having cutaneous wounds were examined monthly (total 240 animals) for the presence/absence of maggots. The incidence of active maggot wound myiasis was 37.1%. The larvae of Lucilia cuprina were recovered from both sheep and goats whereas Calliphora erythrocephala and Phormia spp. larvae were found only in sheep and Hypoderma spp. larvae only in goats. There were marked seasonal fluctuations in the occurrence of infestation rate of maggots with a significantly (P<0.05) maximum incidence (71.7%) in monsoon season. To study the bionomics of cyclorrhaphan flies, meat pieces of sheep and goats were kept in open field as well as in dairy farm. Eight species viz. Lucilia cuprina, Calliphora erythrocephala, Chrysomyia megacephala, Sarcophaga rufifaciens, Phormia regina, Musca domestica and Stomoxys calcitrans of cyclorrhaphan flies were recorded. The study would help to formulate an appropriate control strategy against cutaneous myiasis causing flies and to minimize the perpetuating financial losses to animal owners in the region.