Heath et al.—Establishment of cluster flies in New Zealand

New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

A cluster fly, Pollenia pseudorudis Rognes, 1985 (Diptera: Calliphoridae): its history and pest status in New Zealand

A. C. G. Heath

AgResearch Wallaceville
P.O. Box 40 063
Upper Hutt, New Zealand
allen.heath@agresearch.co.nz

J. W. M. Marris

Entomology Research Museum
Ecology and Entomology Group
Lincoln University
P.O. Box 84
Canterbury, New Zealand

A. C. Harris

Otago Museum
Box 6202
Dunedin North, New Zealand

Abstract From its first record of establishment in Auckland in 1984, a Northern Hemisphere cluster fly, Pollenia pseudorudis, can now be found throughout much of New Zealand, creating a nuisance in buildings in autumn as the adult flies seek hibernation sites. From the numbers of enquiries recorded, fly numbers appeared to be far greater during 2002 than in previous years. There were 31 records from North Island localities in 2002 and 17 from Otago and South Canterbury alone, compared with 17 in 2001 from Otago and South Canterbury together. In addition, there were new distributional records for Otago and South Canterbury in 2003. Most records on which our findings are based came from the public, many of whom also sent flies, and we also examined collections from a number of institutions. The disruption of a homestay operation and the suspected contamination of a town water supply were unexpected economic consequences of the fly’s behaviour. There are still parts of New Zealand that have not recorded the presence of P. pseudorudis, and its continued spread is likely. The severity of the fly’s impact on earthworm populations has yet to be established.

Keywords nuisance fly; Pollenia pseudorudis; household pest; earthworms

Z04001; Received 13 January 2004; accepted 14 July 2004; Online publication date 24 November 2004

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