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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #366293
Research Project: Management of Filth Flies

Location: Mosquito and Fly Research

Title: Developing polyols as filth fly insecticides: Current findings and future directions

Author
item BURGESS, EDWIN - NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
item Geden, Christopher - Chris
item JOHNSON, DANA
item KING, BETHIA - NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2019
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Abstract only.

Technical Abstract: Polyols such as erythritol and xylitol are often used as non-nutritive replacements for sucrose or other caloric carbohydrates in food items. Some recent work suggests they may be appealing candidates for insecticidal control, especially in the Diptera. Filth flies are a notorious pest of medical and veterinary relevance. Sanitation methods are the major form of control, but heavy use of chemicals is also common. The flies often rapidly build resistance to chemical control. It is therefore valuable to search for new control chemicals, especially ones that can be considered environmentally friendly. Erythritol and xylitol each show slow but significant mortality in 2 M solutions against adult Musca domestica(Diptera: Muscidae) under some conditions. The polyols each serve as an excellent delivery medium for the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) compared to sucrose. Finally, they have potential as both an ovicide and a larvicide against M. domesticaand Stomoxys calcitrans(Diptera: Muscidae). To fully harness their potential, discovering their modes of action is essential, including how they may affect the physiology, gut microbiome, and/or behaviors of the flies.