Visual and olfactory enhancement of stable fly trapping

Authors: Zhu, Junwei - Jerry; ZHANG, QINGHE - Sterling International, Inc; Taylor, David; Friesen, Kristina

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2015
Publication Date: 1/25/2016
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/63011
Citation: Zhu, J.J., Zhang, Q., Taylor, D.B., Friesen, K.M. 2016. Visual and olfactory enhancement of stable fly trapping. Pest Management Science. 72:1765-1771.

Interpretive Summary: Stable flies are major blood-feeding pests of livestock animals It has been reported that stable flies cause over $2 billion annually in losses to the U.S. cattle industry. Stable fly control in confined and pastured livestock settings has focused primarily on sanitation and insecticides, but costly, and it provides only marginal control Traps with sticky surfaces have been used to control stable fly populations. Several studies have also shown that volatile odorants added traps can increase their catch efficiency significantly. In the present study, we: 1) compared the efficacy of various stable fly traps; 2) developed a low cost white panel trap for stable fly monitoring and control; 3) conducted electroretinogram (ERG) recordings of different ages and sexes of stable flies and; 4) evaluated the effectiveness of olfactory and visually baited white panel traps for capturing stable flies under field conditions.

Technical Abstract: BACKGROUND: Stable flies are considered to be one of themajor blood-feeding pests in theUS livestock industry, causing losses running into billions of dollars annually. Adult stable flies are highly attracted to Alsynite traps; however, Alsynite is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain and is expensive. RESULTS: Here, we report on the development of a less expensive and more efficacious trap based upon a white panel with the option to add visual and olfactory stimuli for enhanced stable fly trapping. White panel traps caught twice as many stable flies than Alsynite traps. Baiting the traps with synthetic manure volatiles increased catches 2–3-fold. Electroretinographic recordings of stable flies showed strong peaks of visual sensitivities occurring at 330–360 nm, 460–525nm and 605–635 nm. A laboratory study indicated that young stable flies aremore responsive towhite,whereas gravid females prefer blue; in the field, white traps caughtmore stable flies than patterned or blue-black traps. CONCLUSION: Stable fly control can be enhanced by developing more efficient trapping systemswith added visual and olfactory stimuli.