Field observations and herbarium specimen analyses show that gnats belonging to several genera (e.g., Polypedilum, Chironomus, Cricotopus, Dicrotendipes, and Paratanytarsus) of the family Chironomidae were the main insect visitors found trapped by glandular hairs of Saxifraga candelabrum (all insects identified by entomologists; Supplementary Data 1). In contrast, species from Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Syrphidae, Sarcophagidae, Colletidae, and Halictidae were the main uncaptured flower-visiting (potential pollinator) insects (Supplementary Data 1, Fig. S1). Field observations demonstrated that the number of insects trapped on S. candelabrum individuals correlated positively with both the number (Spearman’s rank correlation ρ = 0.38, n = 30, p = 0.038) and length (Spearman’s rank correlation ρ = 0.33, n = 92, p = 0.001) of inflorescence branches (Fig. 4). Juvenile plants with only a few branches exhibited minimal or no insect trapping. In contrast, mature individuals harbored an average of 71 trapped insects, predominantly localized on the glandular hairs of inflorescence branches, with significantly fewer occurrences observed on stems. This observed correlation suggested that the increased number and length of inflorescence branches may enhance insect attraction and provide a larger surface area bearing glandular hairs, potentially increasing the probability of insect capture. In addition, examination of all available flowering herbarium...

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is a blood-sucking pest of livestock worldwide. Cattle respond to stable fly attacks with evasive behaviors such as skin twitching, foot stamping, and tail flicking. Although such behaviors may be useful indicators of biting fly pressure, their relationship with trap-based stable fly activity across seasons remains unclear. We conducted year-round hourly observations of stable fly flight activity and cattle skin twitching in a dairy barn...

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae), is a blood-sucking pest of livestock worldwide. Cattle respond to stable fly attacks with evasive behaviors such as skin twitching, foot stamping, and tail flicking. Although such behaviors may be useful indicators of biting fly pressure, their relationship with trap-based stable fly activity across seasons remains unclear. We conducted year-round hourly observations of stable fly flight activity and cattle skin twitching in a dairy barn...

Book here. The fly family Muscidae are generally known as House Flies and everyone knows Musca domestica which flies around our kitchens and confounds scientists by landing upside down on the ceiling....