Spectral Sensitivity of Stable, Face, and Horn Flies and Behavioral Responses of Stable Flies to Visual Traps (Diptera: Muscidae)

Compound eyes of laboratory-reared and field-collected stable and horn flies, and laboratory- reared face flies have peak visual sensitivities from 360 to 490 nm. Horn and stable flies have a visual sensitivity plateau at 625 nm that was not detected in laboratory-reared face flies. Clear fiber glass and ultraviolet reflectors were the most efficient materials for trapping stable flies. Traps were more efficient when exposed to full sunlight which enhances reflection of ultraviolet light. In comparative tests, materials with poor ultraviolet reflection were less effective for capturing stable flies.