Characterization And Manipulation Of Urban Light Environments For Fly Control

I will introduce my research on filth fly visual ecology that investigates how flies perceive and respond to visual information in urban environments. I image urban and non-urban environments using multispectral, polarisation, and panoramic photography to record the visual information accessible to filth fly vision. I then use bespoke image processing and visual modelling of filth fly vision to generate a ‘fly-eye-view’ of how flies perceive urban environments. Results identify visually conspicuous features of urban environments and allow for a better understanding of visually guided behaviour. I highlight potential for manipulation of environmental cues to influence behaviour and limit the spread of pathogens. Specifically, I contrast regular features of non-urban and urban environments, looking at UV intensity at different angles, detection of salient objects, patterns of polarised light, and occurrence of known attractive features. I show how taking a visual modelling approach incorporating features of the focal species visual system can yield new insights into behaviour in urban environments.