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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 #343770
Research Project: Management of Filth Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Blue and black cloth targets: Effects of size, shape and color on stable fly (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) attraction

Author
item Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry
item FOIL, LANE - Louisana State University

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2018
Publication Date: 2/17/2018
Citation: Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Foil, L.D. 2018. Blue and black cloth targets: Effects of size, shape and color on stable fly (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) attraction. Journal of Economic Entomology. 111:974-979. doi:10.1093/jee/toy015.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toy015

Interpretive Summary: Stable fly is an important livestock pest, and management is challenging. Insecticide-treated blue and black cloth targets, developed in Africa, were tested in Louisiana and Florida to determine if they would attract and kill stable flies to help protect livestock. Questions about target shape, size and color relative to efficacy and stability were investigated. Attraction was not affected but stability was improved when flat 1-m2 targets were formed into cylinders. Attraction was not affected when 1-m2 cylindrical targets were reduced in size (63 diam. x 30 cm high). There was no difference in attraction between small blue and black, blue, and black targets. Thus targets could be solid black and be effective. Tests showed that numbers of stable flies attracted to and killed by treated targets had been it greatly underestimated in the past.

Technical Abstract: Stable fly management has been challenging. Insecticide-treated targets made from blue and black fabric, developed in Africa, were evaluated in Louisiana and Florida to determine if they would attract and kill stable flies. Untreated targets were used to answer questions about configuration, size and color relative to efficacy and stability. Attraction was not affected but stability was improved when flat 1-m2 targets were formed into cylinders. Attraction was not affected when 1-m2 cylindrical targets were reduced in size (63 diam. x 30 cm high). There was no difference in attraction between small blue-black, blue, and black targets. Thus targets could be solid black and be effective. Tests showed that numbers of stable flies attracted to and killed by treated targets had been it greatly underestimated in the past.