A Model for Assessing Blowfly Control and Research

Blowfly strike of sheep can be represented as part of the fly life cycle (Fig-1). Our objective is to identify and quantify important factors promoting progression through the cycle so as to be able to predict the timing and impact of one particular part of the cycle viz. the development of fly larvae on sheep or 'strike'. In Fig-l, some of the factors believed to be important for the development of body strike are listed; for other types of strike, factors have similarly been identified. The aim is to replace each arrow in the cycle with a mathematical equation describing the development of the succeeding stage in terms of the factors affecting that transfer. Information on the quantitative importance of the various factors is fragmentary and needs to be supplemented by further research.