DIAGNOSTIC STUDY AND SOME ECOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF STABLE FLY STOMOXYS CALCITRANS L. 1758 (DIPTERA:MUSCIDAE) IN BASRAH PROVINCE, IRAQ.

This study was conducted during June 2016 to May 2017, to determine the morphological characteristics of stable fly Stomoxys calcitrans L. ,and studying some ecological aspects. These studies of stable flies are being conducted for the first time in Iraq.The morphological diagnosis of Stomoxys calcitrans: Frontal vitta with black pollinose, yellow around ocellar triangle, parafrontalia golden, parafacialia grayish black. Thorax gray to yellowish pollinose, Pleura yellow; sternites dark brown to black, Legs black, Wing tinged smoky-brown. Abdomen gray to yellowish; dorsum with four brownish pollinose spots, at least 3 abdominal segments with a single median spot basally and pair of spots at apex of each segment. Female identical to male in color and structure except for wider frontal vitta, frontal triangle with golden pollinosity extending almost to frontal ridge, setae on head somewhat stouter than in male, Interocular space wide in females, narrower in males by about half the distance of separation in females. A total of 470 flies were collected in this study. The results showed, some variations of monthly abundance were determined during the study period, four different climatic seasons. In general, stable flies were found to be more abundant in the moderate climates period of the year. April was the highest abundance with 18.7%, while, no presence recorded in January and December. Some observations showed that stable flies were found in the field in different periods of the day, beginning from 06:00 to 18:00 hr.,but these are periods that are considered the peak of its presence of other seasons during the year. Both sexes of S. calcitrans showed the same peak of activity in the day108 nearly. The field observations showed that Stomoxys calcitrans adults attack many economic and domesticated animals in Basrah province.Cattle are the most, followed by buffaloes, dogs, horses, cats, camels, donkeys than sheep, goats and rabbits