Laboratory assessment of different methods of applying a commercial granular bait formulation of methomyl to control adult houseflies (Musca domestica l.) in intensive animal units

Abstract

AbstractFemale houseflies (Musca dornestica L.) from a susceptible and a multiinsecticide‐resistant strain were used to evaluate the toxicity of a granular insecticide bait formulation of the carbamate insecticide methomyl. The bait was either applied to a polystyrene bait target, or scattered over the floor of the fly treatment cages. Targets were treated with methomyl granules dissolved in water with and without apaste carrier or the granules were applied directly to the target using an adhesive. Scattered methomyl granules proved the most effective of the various treatments assessed. Based on the KT90 values, the most effective suspended bait treatments against susceptible or resistant flies were water as a carrier, and egg or ‘Lap’ wallpaper paste as adhesives; the least effective were ‘Polycell’ regular wallpaper paste as an adhesive and carboxymethylcellulose as a carrier. A proportion of flies from both the susceptible and the resistant strain recovered from knockdown; most of these lost their ability to fly (‘hoppers’) and subsequently survived the treatments. When bait targets treated with methomyl granules were fixed at right angles to the wall/floor junction of the treatment cages most of the recovered flies fed again on the bait and received a lethal dose. The mortality of flies exposed to suspended bait targets was influenced by the level of light. For both strains of fly, mortality decreased as the light intensity was lowered; this effect was more pronounced with the resistant strain. The implication of these results for the application of methomyl bait is discussed.