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Title: Efficacy of novaluron as a feed-through for control of immature horn flies, house flies, and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) developing in cow manure

Author
item Lohmeyer, Kimberly - Kim
item Pound, Joe
item Yeater, Kathleen
item May, Melinda

Submitted to: Journal of Medical Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2014
Publication Date: 7/7/2014
Citation: Lohmeyer, K.H., Pound, J.M., Yeater, K.M., May, M.A. 2014. Efficacy of Novaluron as a feed-through for control of immature horn flies, house flies, and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) developing in cow manure. Journal of Medical Entomology. 51(4):873-877.

Interpretive Summary: A daily feed-through formulation of novaluron, a newer insecticide, was evaluated for its efficacy in controlling the immature stages of horn flies, house flies, and stable flies developing in cow manure. Two rates (0.4 mg/kg body wt/day and 0.6 mg/kg body wt/day) were evaluated in this study and both rates reduced adult horn fly, house fly, and stable fly emergence when compared with the untreated control. Both of the feed-through rates evaluated resulted in 100% reduction of adult stable fly emergence after the second day of feed-through treatment. The presence of deformed pupae indicated that novaluron had an insect growth regulator effect on developing horn fly, house fly, and stable fly larvae. The level of control observed against horn flies, house flies, and stable flies in this study, make this product a good candidate for use in an integrated livestock pest management program, especially cattle production situations.

Technical Abstract: Two rates (0.4 mg/kg body wt/day and 0.6 mg/kg body wt/day) of a daily feed-through formulation of novaluron (Novaluron 0.67% AI Cattle Mix), a newer benzoylphenyl urea insecticide, were evaluated for efficacy in controlling the larval stage of horn flies, Haematobia irritans (L.), house flies, Musca domestica L., and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), developing in cow manure. Both rates of feed-through novaluron reduced adult emergence of all three species when compared with the untreated control. The presence of deformed pupae indicated that novaluron had an insect growth regulator effect on the developing fly larvae. Both of the feed-through rates evaluated resulted in 100% reduction of adult stable fly emergence after the second day of feed-through treatment. The level of control efficacy observed against these three fly species make this feed-through formulation a candidate for use in an integrated livestock pest management program, particularly in confined cattle production situations where a feed-through product could be easily administered.