ARS | Publication request: Manipulation of microbial community in fly development media to develop novel control strategies

Submitted to: International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 19, 2012
Publication Date: July 20, 2012
Citation: Zhu, J.J. 2012. Manipulation of microbial community in fly development media to develop novel control strategies. In: ISCE 2012 Conference Abstract Book. International Society of Chemical Ecology Meeting, July 22-26, 2012, Vilnius, Lithuania. p. 106.

Interpretive Summary: Stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) and house flies (Musca dometica) are not only the most serious pests commonly found in agricultural lands, but also causes damage in urban settings. Stable flies are often around livestock animals, and have been observed to attack pet animals and humans in rural and recreation areas. Their feeding on livestock animals can led to increased disease incidence, reproductive failure and reduction of meat and milk yields, with estimated economic loss up to 2 billions of dollars in beef and dairy industry. The housefly is a well-known cosmopolitan pest of both agricultural and urban environments. Houseflies cause annoyance to humans and animals and vector many medical and veterinary pathogenic organisms. The use of insecticides become a common control method, but, both flies have developed resistance to several insecticide classes The current presentation reports our recent discoveries on discovering novel botanical-based antibacterial agents to manipulate their microbial community in larval and oviposition media. I will also discuss the future development of these novel agents as natural larvicides and oviposition deterrents in fly management.

Technical Abstract: The present study reports the discovery of using plant essential oils as antimicrobial agents to inhibit fly larval growth, as well as natural oviposition deterrents to reduce their further infestation. Catnip essential oil and its major ingredient compounds, nepetalactone, can suppress fly larval growth with over 98% control. The mechanism of action is via its antibacterial activity in larval development media. It can further deter female fly oviposition via manipulating their emission of volatiles associate with their oviposition site that used as chemical cues for female oviposition selection.