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Fly Control Principles - Chemical Methods
After maximum effort to suppress fly numbers by proper cultural and biological methods, insecticides are often needed to achieve the desired degree of fly control.
If fly suppression by cultural and biological methods is maximized, then the effectiveness of insecticide treatments will be enhanced, and the rate of development of fly resistance to the insecticide will be reduced.
The most effective insecticide use is as part of an integrated control program, in conjunction with cultural and biological methods.
Insecticides are either adulticides (baits, spray-on, paint-on), or larvicides (spraying breeding sites and using feed additives).
Larvicides
Larviciding is an important component of an Integrated Pest Management strategy, alongside adulticiding, and cultural and biological control measures.
Larviciding of manure and other fly breeding sites is accomplished with the same types of equipment used for residual surface sprays. A coarse spray and high volume is required.
The most satisfactory use of a spray-on larvicide is to apply it only to those areas in which an abundance of fly larvae is observed.
Complete treatment of all manure and other potential breeding sites is expensive. There is a further problem with treating all manure: generally, insecticides which pass through the digestive tract and feces to become toxic to fly larvae will also be toxic to fly predators in the manure, and most of the beneficial predator population will be killed.
An exception is cyromazine (LARVADEX® / NEPOREX®), which is toxic to fly larvae but not to predaceous mites and beetles.
Larviciding can also be accomplished by incorporating an insecticide into animal feed. Incorporating an insecticide into the water has been less satisfactory due to the irregular amounts of water consumption and difficulty in maintaining the proper dosage per animal.
Although several chemicals have been experimentally effective for fly control in feces, most have not been registered for use. Often there are problems with residues in the animal tissues or products.
Any insecticides that are used as part of a fly control program must be labeled and registered for the intended use.
In animal production facilities extreme caution should be exercised to be sure that only approved insecticides are used, and that label instructions and restrictions are followed.
There are frequent changes in the insecticides approved and labeled for fly control by the different application methods and the latest information should be obtained.
The Major Pest
The common house fly, Musca domestica, is the major pest species associated with confined livestock production.
Anti-Fly Products
Integrated fly control means using a two-pronged attack on flies: larvicides to prevent fly larvae developing into adults, and adulticides to kill adult flies.