Location: Agroecosystem Management Research
Project Number: 3042-10400-001-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated
Start Date: Dec 1, 2024
End Date: Nov 30, 2029
Objective:
Objective 1: Develop lure and kill technologies to reduce biting fly attacks on cattle.
Sub-objective 1A: Enhanced attraction via new attractants identified from environmentally different stable fly larval development substrates.
Sub-objective 1B: Stable fly-feeding stimulants.
Objective 2: Discover novel biopesticides and repellent formulations for stable fly control.
Sub-objective 2A: Natural-product-based biopesticides and oviposition deterrents.
Sub-objective 2B: The understanding of the role of dsRNA nuclease(s) in RNAi-based control in stable flies.
Sub-Objective 2C: Evaluation of genes that shape gut microbiota in stable fly larvae.
Objective 3: Engineer biosensors based on stable fly receptor proteins to detect odorants correlated with host animal environments and their larval development sites.
Sub-Objective 3A: Identify olfactory receptors and receptor proteins for long-distance orientation or spatial repellency.
Subobjective 3B: Molecular understanding of chemo-contact receptor in stable fly oviposition selection.
Subobjective 3C: Biosensor development based on identified olfactory receptor (OR) proteins.
Approach:
Stable flies, horn flies, and other filth flies disturb livestock animals and can transmit many diseases. Their painful bites have direct impacts on livestock productivity (i.e., losses in meat and dairy milk production) and lead to animal stress. Furthermore, with increasing urbanization in the U.S., these pests have expanded beyond rural landscapes into urban areas, attacking companion animals and even human beings. Continuing climate changes have also contributed to their massive outbreaks worldwide. Despite these challenges, the demand for livestock production is projected to continuously grow in the coming decades. Current livestock pest management strategies and practical tools are marginally meeting the requirements for effective control. Fewer pesticides have been developed in the last 10 years under more restrictions from regulations specifically for animal use. As a result, massive applications of the few approved pesticides have contributed to the swift development of insecticide resistance in field populations of flies, further limiting control efficacy. Therefore, exploring novel and green control technologies in livestock pest management is essential to provide alternatives for control solutions. This project proposes to understand the chemical, ecological, and molecular biological mechanisms of stable fly host orientation and oviposition selection and their impact on livestock via basic and applied research. Basic research will address how different environments affect stable fly host search and larval development. Applied research includes developing novel tools, including attractant and repellant formulations, for more effective monitoring and control. Improving our understanding of the receptors and genes involved in stable fly olfaction allows for the development of novel, molecular-based control strategies as well as the development of biosensors for advanced control. The success of this project will reduce biting fly populations and improve animal welfare. The developed tools will be used to reduce negative impacts on humans and companion animals from those biting flies.
