Autodissemination of pyriproxyfen as a method for controlling the house fly Musca domestica

Abstract

House fly (Musca domestica) control is a major challenge in animal agriculture. Here, we tested the feasibility of applying pyriproxyfen (PPF), an insect-growth regulator that controls house flies effectively, using autodissemination methods, in which the flies themselves deliver PPF to their oviposition sites. First, we tried baiting gravid female flies to walk-through stations, where flies would self-treat with PPF and distribute it. This concept worked well in laboratory and indoor cage experiments, but not in the field, as flies appeared reluctant to alight on and collect PPF. Therefore, we tested a different concept of actively coating flies with PPF and then releasing them in different proportions. This concept was tested in laboratory experiments with various manure types in the USA and in Israel. Twenty percent of PPF-coated flies (corresponding to ≥ 2.3 mg/kg PPF) were sufficient to get high control levels (~ 90%) in most of the tested manure types in the US study. Very similar results were obtained in the experiments in Israel but only with poultry manure, whereas low control levels were obtained when cow manure was used. We conclude that autodissemination of PPF using the collect-treat-release "active coating" concept may be practical, depending on manure type, and should be further tested in the field. Keywords Insect-growth regulator • Integrated pest management • Animal manure Key messages • We examined the feasibility of applying pyriproxyfen using autodissemination methods for controlling the house fly. • High control levels were achieved in most of the manure types tested in the USA, whereas in the experiments in Israel high control levels were obtained only in poultry manure. • Treating 10-20% of females (resulting in 2.3-4.8 mg/kg PPF in target substrates) was sufficient to achieve control in most of the manure types tested in the USA and poultry manure in Israel. • Luring house flies to pyriproxyfen-collecting stations in the field was not effective enough with the devices tested. • Autodissemination may be practical, depending on manure type and proportion of treated flies. Communicated by C. Cutler.

Development and Characterization of Pyriproxyfen-Loaded Nanoemulsion for Housefly Control: Improving Activity, Reducing Toxicity, and Protecting Ecological Environment

“…They move and breed in dumps, farms, toilets, wet markets, and other places where people live and produce. 13 Houseflies do not bite humans nor animals, but they carry a variety of pathogenic microorganisms in their bodies. Houseflies can transmit more than 60 intestinal diseases in humans and animals, including bacterial infections such as salmonellosis, shigella (dysentery), and cholera; helminths, such as round- worm, hookworm, and tapeworm; viruses; and rickettsiosis.…”

“…Musca domestica is a widely distributed public health pest. They move and breed in dumps, farms, toilets, wet markets, and other places where people live and produce . Houseflies do not bite humans nor animals, but they carry a variety of pathogenic microorganisms in their bodies.…”