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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309918
Title: Vestergaard zerofly fabric for fly control in the US

Author
item Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/15/2014
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Vestergaard ZeroFly pesticide-impregnated fabric has been evaluated in zero-graze swine and cattle farms in Sub-Saharan Africa for management of biting flies, particularly those capable of transmitting Nangana, i.e. tsetse. Other major blood-feeding flies encountered around these units are various species of Stomoxys and tabanids. Although this product has shown promise when evaluated under African conditions, some changes in product use can be expected if ZeroFly is to be used in the US. The major target changes in the US from tsetse to Stomoxys calcitrans. Farms are much larger in the US and many fly-related problems occur when animals are in pastured situations. In African livestock units the effectiveness of ZeroFly has been related to a decrease in the numbers of protected animals infected with Nangana. In the US, the effectiveness of the fabric will have to be determined in other ways. Because of fly density and mobility, changes in trap counts due to ZeroFly may not occur. In the US, the ability of ZeroFly to protect contained animals has been evaluated as has the interaction between animals and traps placed nearby to provide a fly population index. Stable flies readily fly over the ZeroFly fabric when attractive traps or animals are placed within a ZeroFly enclosure. However, these flies have an opportunity to rest on the fabric before entering or leaving the enclosure. Placement of ZeroFly along the sides of open dairy barns where fly pressure if high results in visible numbers of dead stable flies on the ground below the base of the fabric. This dramatic effect could not be seen in African conditions because typical stable fly populations were extremely low by comparison. There are potential uses for ZeroFly around US livestock production units, particularly when ZeroFly is incorporated into attract and kill devices.