Increasing abundance of Stomoxyscalcitrans has been observed in organic byproducts resulting from sugar cane alcohol production. This study aimed to evaluate the abundance of S. calcitrans in such byproducts. From January to December 2011, the abundance of S. calcitrans was monitored in four byproducts: sugar cane bagasse, mulch, filter cake (FC) and mulch plus vinasse (MV), in a sugar cane mill located at the municipality of Angélica, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Monthly, 20 emergence traps were placed in each substrate, remaining active for the following four weeks. A total of 4,049 specimens of S. calcitrans was caught during the whole period, representing 9.22% of total amount of collected flies. The four byproducts studied showed significant differences regarding the abundance of S. calcitrans, being higher in FC (67.20%) and MV (29.19%). Abundance peaks were observed in June (PV) and October (PV and TF). The highest productivity of S. calcitrans was observed in TF (55.8 flies/mII) and PV (24.2 flies/mII) and the average monthly production of S. calcitrans at the mill was estimated at 37,000 and 24 million, respectively. The high capacity of S. calcitrans breeding in sugar cane byproducts explains the recent population explosions of this species reported in cattle ranches around sugarcane mills.
Stable fly; Stomoxys calcitrans; sugar cane mill; population explosion
