Larvicidal potential of the polyol sweeteners erythritol and xylitol in two filth fly species

Authors: BURGESS, EDWIN - Northern Illinois University; Geden, Christopher - Chris

Submitted to: Journal of Vector Ecology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2018
Publication Date: 5/23/2019
Citation: Burgess, E.R., Geden, C.J. 2019. Larvicidal potential of the polyol sweeteners erythritol and xylitol in two filth fly species. Journal of Vector Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvec.12324.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvec.12324

Interpretive Summary: House flies and stable flies are major pests of animal agriculture in the US and throughout the world. Management of these flies using insecticides can be problematic because the flies have developed resistance to many of the available products. The growing market for organic products creates additional demands for alternatives to chemical insecticides. Although their mode of action is not not known, the artificial sweeteners xylitol and erythritol are toxic to adult flies of several species. In this study, scientists at Northern Illinois University and USDA-ARS's Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (Gainesville, FL) evaluated the effect of these sweeteners on larvae of house flies and stable flies. Larvae of both species were more sensitive to erythritol than xylitol, and stable flies were more sensitive than house flies. Adult flies could not distinguish between untreated larval media and media treated with the sweeteners, and they readily laid eggs on both types. These sweeteners appear to have potential as an inexpensive way to control flies without using conventional insecticides.

Technical Abstract: The house fly, Musca domestica (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), and the stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae) are two filth flies responsible for significant economic losses in animal production. Although some chemical control products target adults of both species, differences in mouthpart morphology and behavior necessitates distinct modalities for each. For these reasons, larvicides are an attractive means of chemical control. Here we assessed the potential of the polyol sweeteners erythritol and xylitol as larvicides to the house fly and stable fly. LC50 values of erythritol against 2nd instar larvae were 34.94 mg/g media for house fly and 22.10 mg/g media for stable fly. For xylitol, LC50 values were 74.91 mg/g media (house fly) and 41.58 mg /g media (stable fly). When given a choice, neither species showed a preference for ovipositing in media treated with either sweetener at various concentrations or in media without sweetener. Significantly lower development from egg to adult was observed when the 2nd instar LC50 equivalent of each sweetener was present in media compared to controls. Erythritol and xylitol both have larvicidal qualities, however their effective concentrations would necessitate creative product formulation and deployment methods to control all stages of developing flies.