Middle East DVEP - Armed Forces Pest Management Board

sites of attack, and a favorite site is the nape of the neck. Black fly bites may be itchy andslow to heal. Systemic reactions, characterized by wheezing, fever or widespreadurticaria, are rare but require medical evaluation and treatment. Since black fly larvaerequire clean, flowing water, their distribution in the Middle East is limited.12. Siphonaptera (fleas). Flea bites can be an immense source of discomfort. Thetypical flea bite consists of a central spot surrounded by an erythematous ring. There isusually little swelling, but the center may be elevated into a papule. Papular urticaria isseen in persons with chronic exposure to flea bites. In sensitized individuals, a delayedpapular reaction with intense itching may require medical treatment.Fleas are extremely mobile, jumping as high as 30 cm. Biting often occurs around theankles when troops walk through flea-infested habitat. Blousing trousers inside boots isessential to provide a barrier, since fleas will crawl under blousing garters. Fleas may beencountered in large numbers shortly after entering an abandoned dwelling. When adwelling is abandoned, flea pupae will remain in a quiescent state for long periods of time.The activity of anyone entering such premises will stimulate a mass emergence of hungryfleas. The most common pest species of fleas encountered in the Middle East are thecosmopolitan cat and dog fleas, Ctenocephalides felis and C. canis, the Oriental rat flea,Xenopsylla cheopis, and the human flea, Pulex irritans. A list of species reported fromthis region appears in Appendix A.4.13. Solpugida (sun spiders, wind scorpions). These arthropods are common in aridenvironments of the Middle East. Their hairy spider-like appearance and ability to runrapidly across the ground give rise to their common names. They range from 20 to 35 mmin body length and are usually pale colored. They have very large, powerful chelicerae,giving them a ferocious appearance. They can inflict a painful bite but do not have venomglands. Sun spiders are largely nocturnal, hiding during the day under objects or inburrows. They are predaceous on other arthropods and may even capture small lizards.14. Tabanidae (horse flies and deer flies). Tabanids are large, stout-bodied flies withwell-developed eyes that are often brilliantly colored. More than 4,000 species have beendescribed worldwide. The larvae develop in moist or semiaquatic sites, such as themargins of ponds, salt marshes or damp earth. The immature stages are unknown for mostspecies. Mature larvae migrate from their muddy habitats to drier areas of soil to pupate.In temperate regions the entire life cycle can take two years or more to complete. Thelarvae of horse flies are carnivorous and cannibalistic, whereas deer fly larvae feed onplant material. Consequently, deer fly populations can reach considerably higher numbersin the same area. Deer flies, about 8 to 15 mm long, are about half the size of horse flies,which range from 20 to 25 mm long. The most common tabanid genera containing manbitingspecies are Chrysops (deer flies), Tabanus (horse flies) and Haematopota (horseflies).Only female tabanids bite and take a blood meal, and nearly all species feed on mammals.Males feed on flower and plant juices. Tabanids are diurnal and most active on warm,sunny days with low wind speeds, especially during the early morning and late afternoon.Adults are powerful flyers with a range of several km. They are very persistent biters, andtheir painful bites are extremely annoying. Tabanids lacerate the skin with scissor-like141