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ARS Home » Plains Area » Lincoln, Nebraska » Agroecosystem Management Research » Research » Research Project #427580

Research Project: Integrated Management of Stable Flies

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

2017 Annual Report


Objectives
Objective 1: Develop sustainable methods for the management of stable flies and other flies impacting livestock production. Sub-objective 1.1 Identify and test larvicides for stable flies and other flies developing in livestock wastes. Sub-objective 1.2 Develop attractants for use on traps. Sub-objective 1.3 Develop adult fly repellents with extended residual activity. Sub-objective 1.4 Evaluate effects of stable flies on behavior and productivity of cattle. Sub-objective 1.5 Evaluate the effectiveness of a Push-Pull stable fly management strategy. Objective 2: Characterize effects of biological, chemical, and physical substrate properties on stable fly larval development. Sub-objective 2.1 Characterize functional groups of microorganisms in substrates associated with stable fly and house fly larval development. Sub-objective 2.2 Identify endosymbionts and parasitoids associated with stable flies. Sub-objective 2.3 Characterize nutritional factors required for stable fly larval development. Objective 3: Develop a physiologically based demographic model (PBDM) to predict temporal and spatial patterns of stable fly population dynamics under current and potential climatic conditions. Sub-objective 3.1 Determine physiological responses of stable fly developmental stages to environmental variables. Sub-objective 3.2 Incorporate parameters from 3.1 into PBDM. Sub-objective 3.3 Validate PBDM.


Approach
Stable flies are among the most serious arthropod pests of livestock in the United States, costing producers in excess of $2 billion per year in lost production. They exhibit an extraordinary ability to adapt to, and exploit, regional agricultural and animal husbandry practices. Stable fly management has proven to be a daunting task largely due to their adaptability, mobility, and gaps in our knowledge of their behavior and biology. This project will address all of these issues. Primarily, the project will develop new methods for the management of stable flies by exploiting the most vulnerable stages in their life cycles. Secondarily, we will develop a better understanding of stable fly biology and how they interact with their environment and hosts. Finally, new and existing information on stable fly biology will be incorporated into a dynamic, physiologically-based demographic model. This model will permit us to predict the dynamics of stable fly populations under real and potential environmental conditions, as well as provide insight into the validity of our understanding of their interactions with biotic and abiotic factors in the environment for development and reproduction. Successful completion of this project will result in new technologies for the management of stable fly populations, reduced impact of stable flies on livestock production systems, and a greater understanding of their biology for the continued development and evolution of stable fly management technologies.


Progress Report
Chemical ecology. Evaluated new stable fly adult attractants identified from host animals, ethanol fermentation byproducts and a potential oviposition attractant from harvested pineapple stems. Attractant compounds isolated from cattle manure slurry and sugarcane ethanol byproducts (vinasse), including m-cresol, p-cresol, short chain fatty acids (C3, C5, C6), and nitrogen- and sulfa compounds were formulated into a slow-release membrane and tested in a feedlot environment using white panel traps. Volatiles released by newly chopped pineapple residues were collected, isolated and identified as part of a cooperatie research and development agreement project with industry. Several of these compounds were evaluated for use as oviposition attractants in laboratory assays. Field trials of an attractant-impregnated adhesive for an automatic trapping device were conducted as part of a cooperatie research and development agreement. (Subobjective 1.2). Medium chain fatty acids including lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid with strong repellency against stable flies and horn flies were identified from coconut oil (invention disclosure submitted). Laboratory tests showed residual activity up to 2-weeks for biting flies. In the field, a water-based amylose starch complex formulation containing 15% coconut fatty acids provided 96 hours of protection. These compounds exhibited toxicity and long term repellency (> 1 week) against ticks (brown dog tick and lone star tick), and bed bugs as well. These materials are less expensive than currently available repellants and pesticides (Subobjective 1.3). A preliminary Push-Pull field trial was conducted in collaboration with scientists from University of Nebraska. Control. An investigation to identify genetic markers associated with cattle susceptibility to horn fly infestation was initiated. The study is a collaborative effort involving scientists at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska, the Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insect Research Center in Kerrville, Texas, University of Tennessee, and University of Arkansas. (Objective 1). Evaluations of an insecticide impregnated screen for control of stable flies continued at Prairieland Dairy. Larval substrates and microbial ecology. A study to assess the role of flies in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacteria was initiated in collaboration with U.S. Meat Animal Research Center scientists. The investigation is part of a larger study on the ecology of AMR bacteria and genes at Clay Center, Nebraska. (Subobjective 2.2). The effects of various fillers, carbohydrates, proteins, and oils on larval development and adult emergence were evaluated. Wheat bran and fish meal continue to be the optimal source of carbohydrate and protein, respectively. Corn cob pellets were superior to the other fillers examined including vermiculite. (Subobjective 2.3). Life history. The collaborative investigation to evaluate the mechanisms used by stable flies to colonize environments in the spring in diverse geographical regions of the United States and Canada is continuing for a third year. (Objective 3). Evaluations of the behavioral responses of stable fly larvae to olfactory stimuli was completed. Fifty-four compounds from ten chemical classes were evaluated. Larvae were highly attracted to ammonia and moderately attracted to several esters. Further investigations are needed to quantify the presence of these volatile organic compounds in naturally-occurring larval substrates and if present, to identify their source(s) (i.e., metabolic byproducts of larvae and/or microorganisms). (Subobjective 3.1). A study on the interactions between diet quality and temperature on stable fly development was completed. Temperature primarily affected the rate of development whereas diet quality affected size. Surprisingly, stable flies developed faster when reared on poor quality diet than they did when reared on high quality diet.


Accomplishments


Review Publications
Friesen, K.M., Berkebile, D.R., Zhu, J.J., Taylor, D.B. 2017. Augmenting laboratory rearing of stable fly (diptera: muscidae) larvae with ammoniacal salts. Journal of Insect Science. 17/1. doi:10.1093/jisesa/iew119.
Taylor, D.B., Friesen, K.M., Zhu, J.J. 2017. Precipitation and temperature effects on stable fly (diptera: muscidae) population dynamics. Environmental Entomology. 46/434-439.
Chaudhury, M.F., Zhu, J.J., Skoda, S.R. 2017. Physical and physiological factors influence behavioral responses of Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) to synthetic attractants. Journal of Economic Entomology. 110(4):1929-1934.
Scully, E.D., Friesen, K.M., Wienhold, B.J., Durso, L.M. 2017. Microbial communities associated with stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae) larvae and their developmental substrates. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 110(1):61-72. doi:10.1093/aesa/saw087.
Millar, J., Baker, T., Zhu, J.J. 2016. Delivery of promise of pheromones: Part II. Journal of Chemical Ecology. 42:851-852.
Zhu, J.J., Chaudhury, M.F., Durso, L.M., Sagel, A., Skoda, S.R., Jelvez-Serra, N.S., Santanab, E.G. 2017. Semiochemicals released from five bacteria identified from animal wounds infested by primary screwworms and their effects on fly behavioral activity. PLoS One. 12(6):e0179090. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0179090.