Result Demonstration Report

Transcription

1 Result Demonstration Report House Fly Densities around Feedlots and Livestock Pens in West Texas Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Tom Green County Cooperator: Thomas Livestock Josh Blanek, County Extension Agent, Tom Green County Dr. Sonja Swiger, AgriLife Extension Entomolgist, Stephenville Summary House flies pose a serious pest for barn/stable operators and dairy operators throughout the United States. When the population rises well above a manageable rate they begin to travel to nearby houses and businesses. House flies do not bite but are extremely annoying and are not appreciated by the general public. Although most livestock can tolerate several hundred house flies at one time, people become discouraged at the site of one house fly. In addition to their nuisance status, house flies have the ability to mechanically transmit over 200 known pathogens that cause disease to humans and animals. Therefore it is important for barn/stable operators and dairy operators to keep their house fly numbers suppressed. Objective The objective of this demonstration is to record house fly numbers during the 2014 fly season in Districts 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 10 in Texas with scatter bait stations containing three different types of baits (QuickBayt, QuikStrike, and Golden Malrin). The study will compare the products and number of dead house flies in order to determine which trapping method is the most effective at attracting and killing house flies. Materials and Methods The trial was set up from July until October 25, Two locations (livestock barn and a feedlot) were chosen and traps were set up. Collections were made on a weekly basis from the locations. Bait stations were hung at least 4 ft. above the ground out of animal reach at different sites in each facility (barn). Each site compared the three different bait products (3 bait stations/sites). Bait stations were constructed from gallon jugs (i.e. milk jugs) and filled with either 1 oz. of QuickBayt, 1 oz. of QuikStrike or 1 oz. of Golden Malrin. New baits and bait stations were replaced at the location at each visit. The collected traps and dead house flies were then removed from the dairies and fly numbers were recorded.

2 Results and Discussion Location - Sheep Pens Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Date 11-Jul 17-Jul 24-Jul 1-Aug 8-Aug 15-Aug 21-Aug 29-Aug QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Location - Sheep Pens Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Date 4-Sep 12-Sep 19-Sep 26-Sep 3-Oct 10-Oct 18-Oct 25-Oct QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Location - Thomas Livestock Feedlot Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Date 15-May 23-May 30-May 5-Jun 13-Jun 20-Jun 27-Jun 2-Jul QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Location - Thomas Livestock Feedlot Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13 Week 14 Week 15 Week 16 Date 11-Jul 17-Jul 24-Jul 1-Aug 8-Aug 15-Aug 21-Aug 29-Aug QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Location - Thomas Livestock Feedlot Week 17 Week 18 Week 19 Week 20 Week 21 Week 22 Week 23 Week 24 Date 4-Sep 12-Sep 19-Sep 26-Sep 3-Oct 10-Oct 18-Oct 25-Oct QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

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4 Total Number of Dead House Flies per Fly Baits ,329 14,715 13,584 22,562 Golden Malrin QuikStrike Quick Bayt Pheromone Traps Total number of collected house flies per bait / Sheep pens Number of house flies Month QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

5 Total number of collected house flies per bait / Thomas Livestock Feedlot Number of house flies Month QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Total Number of collected house flies per week in Tom Green Co. Number of house flies Week

6 Total number of house flies collected per bait in Tom Green County QuikStike Quick Bayt Golden Malrin Conclusions Trade names of commercial products used in this report is included only for better understanding and clarity. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University System is implied. Readers should realize that results from one experiment do not represent conclusive evidence that the same response would occur where conditions vary.

7 A total of 1,900 dead house flies were collected from the barns in Tom Green County. QuikStrike collected the most house flies with 855, QuickBayt collected 786 house flies and 259 were collected in the Golden Malrin traps. This year a total of 17 agents throughout north, central and east Texas took part in the house fly demonstration project. The total number of dead house flies 225,190 collected this year was almost double the number from 2013 (130,185). Many counties noticed considerably more house flies and increased precipitation. Each county tested Golden Malrin and therefore it collected 14,715 house flies, which is less than half of the number from last year (31072). The QuickBayt collected a total of 22,562 house flies, similar to the number from 2013 (24,717). This year the QuikStrike collected the highest number of house flies ever, 13,584, this is 3,000 more than in 2013 and a good sign for the efficacy of the bait. The alternative pheromone traps are proving to be worth their money and collecting large numbers of house flies. Data shows some of the traps to be more effective than others but for the most part the more common (Fly Terminator, Trap N Toss, Fly Captivator and Giant Fly Relief) traps are extremely effective with a total number of 174,329 house flies, this is triple the number collected last year (55695). A final comparative analysis that needs further assessment is looking into the number of house flies collected per bait divided by the number of barns testing the baits. In 2014 a total of 17 farms used Golden Malrin, 14 used QuikStrike, 16 used Quick Bayt and 12 used the pheromone traps. In 2013, 21 barns used Golden Malrin, 14 used QuikStrike, 17 used Quick Bayt and 8 used the pheromone traps. The numbers are similar if not the same each year for the number of locations using the bait stations. There were 4 less barns involved using the Golden Malrin and four additional barns were able to test the pheromone traps. Overall in 2013 the fly numbers broke down to 1,482 for GM, 772 for QS, 1,766 for QB and 7,943 for the pheromone traps. In 2014 the numbers were lower for GM (866) and QB (1,410), QS was higher with 970 and the pheromone traps was doubled with 14,527. Statistical analysis conducted on 2013 data shows no front runner when it comes to the scatter baits but the pheromone traps, for the most part, are significantly more effective at controlling house flies in and around barns. Although all the baits are effective in attracting house flies, their effectiveness for killing house flies is still under investigation. Laboratory work needs to be done to test the efficacy of the baits themselves when house flies are permitted to leave a specific location. There is thought that the active ingredient only knocks-down the house flies temporarily or that the active ingredient does not begin to work right away, allowing the house flies to leave the bait stations prior to dying. Acknowledgements Appreciation is expressed to Thomas Livestock, Jim and Chad Thomas, for the use of their feedlot. Author would also like to Thank Dr. Sonja Swiger for her support of the trial and the Tom Green County Commissioners Court.