Opportunities for integrated pest management to control the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae

Abstract

Dermanyssus gallinae is the most economically important ectoparasite of laying hens in Europe. Control of D. gallinae is already hampered by issues of pesticide resistance and product withdrawal. With the prohibition of conventional cages in 2012 and the resulting switch to more structurally complex housing which favours red mite, the importance of managing this pest is expected to increase. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), as often employed in agricultural pest control, may be a way to address these issues where a combination of different novel control methods could be used with/without conventional management techniques to provide a synergistic and more efficacious effect. Work at in our laboratory has shown that essential oils, including thyme and garlic, may act as effective D. gallinae repellents and acaricides, whilst preliminary vaccine studies have demonstrated a significant increase in mite mortality in vitro using concealed antigens. Work elsewhere has considered predators and fungi for D. gallinae control and other husbandry techniques such as manipulating temperature and lighting regimes in poultry units. This paper will review the available and emerging techniques for D. gallinae control and discuss which techniques might be suitable for inclusion in an integrated management programme (e.g. synthetic acaricides and diatomaceous earths).

Modelling population dynamics and response to management options in the poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (Acari: Dermanyssidae)

“…D. gallinae is difficult to eradicate from infested farms due to its short lifecycle, high reproduction rate and increasing resistance to commonly used acaricides that are becoming less efficient in D. gallinae control as a result (Beugnet et al, 1997;Nordenfors et al, 2001;Zeman, 1987). Alternative strategies are being developed to efficiently control this pest, though many of these remain at the experimental stage (Harrington et al, 2009). Further development of these strategies would be greatly aided by the development of a population model for D. gallinae that would allow the efficacies of control methods to be simulated.…”

Housing and dustbathing effects on northern fowl mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) and chicken body lice (Menacanthus stramineus) on hens

“…Inert dusts, such as DE, are used to treat poultry houses for Dermanyssus (Acari: Dermanyssidae) in Europe (Mul et al , 2009; Harrington et al , 2011). Dawson (2004) suppressed fleas and Protocalliphora (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in tree swallow nests using DE.…”

Understanding the biology and control of the poultry red miteDermanyssus gallinae: a review

“…The efficacy and longevity of new control strategies, such as the introduction of vaccines or novel acaricides, are likely to be affected by specific farming practices and methods of animal husbandry (Harrington et al, 2011) and will require careful planning. For example, introduction of novel acaricides to a system using natural predators of PRM may also affect the predator species as well as D. gallinae (Harrington et al, 2011).…”