Seasonal dynamics and temporal distribution of biting and non-biting muscid flies in various zones of Karnataka state

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the seasonal prevalence and distribution of muscid flies across the various zones (Eastern, Central, and Southern) of Southern Karnataka, India. The flies were collected during the period from June 2024 to May 2025 in cattle farms maintained under semi-intensive and free-range systems. The morphological identification revealed that Haematobia irritans exigua was the most dominant species (55.9%), followed by M. domestica (36.5%) and Stomoxys calcitrans (8.4%). M. domestica were most abundant during the rainy season (46%), especially in the eastern zone, likely due to high humidity and decaying organic matter. In contrast, H. irritans exigua exhibited seasonal dominance during both winter (59%) and summer (66%), particularly in the central zone, indicating its adaptability to a range of climatic conditions and continuous association with livestock. S. calcitrans peaked during the monsoon in livestock-dense areas of the southern zone but showed minimal presence during winter and summer, suggesting its sensitivity to extreme temperatures. These spatio-temporal patterns emphasise the ecological adaptability of H. irritans exigua and the season-dependent prevalence of other muscid species. The present findings aims at need for zone wise and season specific integrated pest management (IPM) strategies which can significantly improve the livestock health including productivity by reducing pathogen transmission risks and stress-related economic losses.