A commercially available sticky card was evaluated for use in adult fly distribution studies in large, closed poultry houses in Florida and Maryland. Results showed that house flies, Musca domestica L., preferred the interior parts of the houses, away from the walls. No vertical stratification was observed in Maryland, but flies in Florida stayed closer to the floor. In-house dispersal studies using fluorescent dust showed that flies would move =50 m, or one-third the length of the house, in <24 h. Specimens of Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann) (formerly Ophyra aenescens) were recovered in both states.

Hydrotaea aenescens (Weidemann) (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae and pupae were released in high-rise pullet houses in Pascoe County, Florida, U.S.A., for biological control of houseflies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), in three separate tests during a 14-month period (April 1994-May 1995) and did not become established. However, H. aenescens believed to be from our releases did become established at a caged-layer farm 0.3 km from the release farm. Moisture in pullet house manure generally exceeded 80%, which is above the level at which H. aenescens is reared in colony. Caged-layer manure was also very wet, but crusted areas provided sites for H. aenescens larval development. Results demonstrate that H. aenescens adults will disperse from release sites and populate preferred sites without becoming a nuisance.

No abstract

No abstract