Location: Mosquito and Fly Research
Title: Improved capture of stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) by placement of Knight Stick sticky fly traps protected by electric fence inside animal exhibit yards at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological ParkAuthor
Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry | |
OSE, GREGORY - Smithsonian National Zoological Park |
Submitted to: Journal of Zoo Biology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 9/28/2017 Publication Date: 9/28/2017 Citation: Hogsette, Jr, J.A., Ose, G.A. 2017. Improved capture of stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) by placement of Knight Stick sticky fly traps protected by electric fence inside animal exhibit yards at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. Journal of Zoo Biology. doi:10.1002/zoo.21382. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21382 Interpretive Summary: The stable fly is a blood-feeding pest of livestock and other animals. Traps have been used to survey stable flies and reduce populations. The Knight Stick trap is highly effective for catching stable flies and may catch more if limits on trap placement were relaxed. When working on stable fly control at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, traps had to be placed around exhibit perimeters where efficacy was questionable. In 2016 permission was given to enclose traps in electric fence and place them inside exhibits close to animals. Traps inside of exhibits captured 5 times more stable flies than traps placed along exhibit perimeters. This provides increased relief from this pestiferous fly and greatly improves animal health and welfare. Technical Abstract: The stable fly is a blood-feeding pest of livestock and other animals. Traps have been used to survey stable flies and reduce populations. The Knight Stick trap is highly effective for catching stable flies and may catch more if limits on trap placement were relaxed. When working on stable fly control at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, traps had to be placed around exhibit perimeters where efficacy was questionable. In 2016 permission was given to enclose traps in electric fence and place them inside exhibits close to animals. Traps inside of exhibits captured 5 times more stable flies than traps placed along exhibit perimeters. This provides increased relief from this pestiferous fly and greatly improves animal health and welfare. |