Control Of Face Fly Research Articles

Evaluation of sunlight-exposed pyrethroid-treated netting for the control of face fly and housefly (Diptera: Muscidae)

Face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae), and houseflies, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), have a significant impact on livestock and dairy production throughout North America. Pyrethroid insecticide efficacy can be affected by exposure to direct sunlight, and the rate of photodegradation is substrate and formulation dependent. Insecticide-treated netting (ITN) is finding new applications in crop and livestock production systems. A baseline study using long-duration no-choice assays has been carried out to gauge the effectiveness of ITN treated with β-cyfluthrin, λ-cyhalothrin and bifenthrin on face flies and houseflies. After 12 weeks in direct sunlight, ITN treated with β-cyfluthrin was still highly insecticidal to face flies and houseflies, producing 100% mortality in petri dish assays. However, sunlight reduced the insecticidal activity of λ-cyhalothrin, with 3% of face flies and 50% of houseflies surviving after exposure to ITN that had been deployed for 10 weeks. Insecticidal activity was greatly reduced on bifenthrin-treated netting, with 20% of face flies and 50% of houseflies surviving in assays with netting deployed for only 3 weeks. With careful choice of the pyrethroid applied, treated netting could be an important component of livestock integrated pest management programs focused on sustainable practices.

Control of Face Flies and Permethrin Resistant Horn Flies on Pastured Beef Cattle with Insecticidal Ear Tags, 1990

Abstract Twelve insecticide ear tags were efficacy tested against face and horn flies on beef cattle. All populations of horn flies were assayed for resistance to permethrin and diazinon prior to tag application and when possible after the tags were removed. These horn flies were compared to susceptible horn flies obtained from the USDA Livestock Laboratory, Kerrvilie, Tex. Tags were applied to 3 groups of cattle with differing insecticide treatment history. One group had been treated the previous year with diazinon ear tags (group A), another with pyrethroid or Maxcon tags (group B), and the third group with various nontag treatments (group C). Each adult animal in the respective herds received 1 tag/ear. After tagging, counts were made at weekly intervals on 10 randomly selected animals from each herd. Counts were made during the same time period (11:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M.). Horn flies were estimated on one side of each animal and face flies were counted on the head and face of these same animals. Fly populations of treated herds were compared to populations on untreated herds located no closer than 0.8 km. The effectiveness of treatments was determined by calculating the percent reduction of fly populations on treated to untreated herds.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies with Experimental Diflubenzuron Boluses, 1988

Abstract Two bolus formulations of 4.75 g (9.7% AI) flaked and powdered diflubenzuron were administered to beef cattle to test their efficacy against horn flies and face flies. Commercially available Vigilante° and methoprene boluses were used as standard treatments. Experimental diflubenzuron and Vigilante boluses were administered to cattle at the rate of 1 bolus/250 kg body weight. Methoprene boluses were administered at a rate of 1 bolus/300 kg body weight. Herd size ranged from 20-48 adult cattle/herd, and all herds were geographically located within 30 miles of each other. Two similar untreated herds were observed to compare treatment effectiveness. All treatments were administered between 20 May and 24 May. Horn fly numbers were estimated on one side of each animal, and face flies were counted on the head and face of the same animals.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies on Dairy Cattle with Liquiduster™ Applicators, Insecticidal Ear Tags, Or A Pour-On Treatment, 1989

Abstract In the first of 2 trials, permethrin insecticide was applied to 3 herds (40-85 head/herd) of kctating dairy cows via Liquiduster applicators starting in Jun and continuing until the 3rd wk of Sep. In a second trial, 4 herds (15-50 head/herd) of dairy heifers or dry dairy cows were treated as follows: (1) 20% fenthion ear tags (formula A, 2 tags/head) were attached to each animal in a herd on 24 Jul, (2) two 20% fenthion ear tags (formula C, 2 tags/head) were attached to each animal in a herd on 24 Jul, (3) 10% cyfluthrin ear tags (2 tags/head) were attached to each animal in a herd on 26 Jul, (4) animals were treated with 1% cyfluthrin pour-on (12 ml/animal) on 24 Jul and 29 Aug. No horn flies were observed on these herds when they were treated. Two herds and one herd served as untreated control herds for the Liquiduster trial and the ear tags and pour-on trial, respectively. Fly density was determined by making weekly counts of the no. of face flies/face and horn flies/side on 15 animals in each herd during the months of Aug and Sep.

Horn and Face Fly Control on Pastured Beef Cattle with Insecticidal Ear Tag Preparations, 1989

Abstract Experimental and commercially available ear tags were evaluated under field conditions for their efficacy against horn and face flies on pastured beef cattle in central Kentucky. The horn fly populations on all herds tagged were sampled and tested for permethrin resistance using the Kentucky horn fly resistance test procedure prior to tagging. A susceptible horn fly population obtained from USDA Livestock laboratory, Kerrville, TX was used as a comparison for all resistance tests. The tags were placed on all adult animals at the rate of one tag/ear. The commercial tags used were Maxcon™, Optimizer™, Terminator™, Saber ™, Tomahawk ™, and Ranger ™. The experimental tags included Mobay’s 15% fenthion + 10% coumaphos, 20% fenthion, 20% fenthion + 15% piperonyl butoxide, and 10% cyfluthrinate and Y-TEX corporation’s YT609A (20% diazinon) and YT305 (cypermethrin). All herds were tagged between 5-15 Jun with the exception of one herd tagged with a 20% fenthion ear tag on 30 Jun. Face flies were counted on the head and face of 10 randomly selected animals/farm while horn flies were estimated on one side of the same animals. Fly counts were compared to those on untreated herds further than 0.5 km, but less than 5 km from the treated herds.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies on Pastured Dairy Heifers with Insecticidal Ear Tags, 1988

Abstract Ear tag efficacy trials were conducted on pastured herds (15-50 head/herd) of dairy heifers in Howard and Carroll counties, Md. Four herds were not tagged and served as controls. During the first 3 wk of May, cattle in Herds 1, 2, 4, and 5 were tagged with 2 Atroban or Terminator tags. Cattle in Herd 3 were tagged with 2 Atroban tags the third week in June. These herds were monitored for face flies and horn flies from June through September. Fly density was determined by making weekly counts of the number of face flies/face and horn flies/side on 15 animals in each herd.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies with Experimental Diflubenzuron Boluses, 1988

Abstract Two bolus formulations of 4.75 g (9.7% AI) flaked and powdered diflubenzuron were administered to beef cattle to test the formulations’ efficacy against horn flies and face flies. Commercially available Vigilante and methoprene boluses were used as standard treatments. Experimental diflubenzuron and Vigilante boluses were administered to cattle at the rate of 1 bolus/250 kg body weight. Methoprene boluses were administered at a rate of 1 bolus/300 kg body weight. Herd size ranged from 20 to 48 adults/herd, and all herds were located within 30 miles of one another. Two similar untreated herds were observed for comparison of treatment effectiveness. All treatments were administered between 20 and 24 May 1988. Horn fly numbers were estimated on one side of each animal, and face flies were counted on the head and face of the same animals.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies on Dairy Cows with Liquiduster Applicators or Ectiban Ear Tapes, 1988

Abstract Permethrin insecticide was applied to 5 herds of lactating dairy cows via Liquiduster applicators or Ectiban ear tapes. For Herd 1, 3 Liquidusters were placed side by side between 2 barns that the milking cows passed through daily. For Herds 2 and 3, 1 or 2 Liquidusters, respectively, were placed in alleyways the cows passed through after they were milked. Ectiban ear tapes were attached to 1 identification tag/cow during wk 1 and 3 of June for Herds 4 and 5, respectively. Four untreated herds served as controls. Fly density was determined on the herds by making weekly counts of the number of face flies/face and horn flies/side on 15 animals in each herd from June through September.

Horn and Face Fly Control on Pastured Reef Cattle with Insecticidal Eartag Preparations, 1987

Abstract Various cattle eartags designed for horn and face fly control were evaluated under field conditions for their efficacy. All herds tested were cow/calf operations located in central and western Kentucky where resistance is becoming more prominent in cattle operations. Prior to treatment the resistant ratio (RS) to permethrin was determined with the KY horn fly resistant test procedures. A permethrin susceptible horn fly strain was used for comparison. All herds were tagged between 15—30 Jun and the herds monitored for horn and face flies at 2 wk intervals. Face flies were counted on the head and face of 10 animals while horn Ilies were counted on one side of the same animals. Commercially available Maxcon (tm), Atroban (tm), and Terminator (tm) flytags were tested along with preparations containing 10% and 15% cyhalothrin (Cy) with piperonyl butoxide and S,S,S-Tributylphosphorotrithioate (Def). Tags containing 22% cyhalothrin with and without calcium carbonate (CaC03) were tested as were tags containing 22 and 35% pirimophos methyl (PM). Tags were applied to all animals in the herds except for spring calves (1987).

Horn fly and face fly control with the Dustacator® combination mineral feeder and livestock dusting device (1988)

Dustacators (combination mineral feeders and livestock dusting devices) were used for four beef herds at Kansas State University in 1985. Loose mineral was supplied in all four Dustacator tubs, which were adjusted to low settings. Permethrin dust had no apparent effect on horn flies. Co-Ral® from two sources and Rabon® provided approximately 65% horn fly reduction during the 53-day test period. The 1986 experiment compared the effects of Dustacator mineral tub height adjustments and loose vs. block mineral. Co-Hal 1% dust from a single source was used in all treatments on two Simmental herds and two Polled Hereford herds. Excellent horn fly control was achieved and maintained except for a temporary increase in horn fly numbers in early September in all treatments. Face fly control was inadequate in all treatments in both years. Use of block mineral was related to reduced mineral consumption and self-application of more insecticide dust. High tub adjustment was related to greater mineral consumption but reduced self-application of insecticide. The degree of fly control was not correlated with amount of insecticide used either on a per-cow or per-herd basis. Simmentals consumed nearly twice as much mineral per head as Polled Herefords, but they used only 20% more insecticide. Including the cost of 1% Co- Ral dust and equipment costs amortized over 5 years, Dustacators provided acceptable horn fly control and some reduction of face fly numbers for $1.62 per cowlcalf pair, plus labor.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies on Pastured Dairy Heifers with Pyrethroid Ear Tags Or Tapes, 1986

Abstract Ear tag efficacy trials were conducted on pastured herds (15-40 head/herd) of dairy heifers in Howard and Carroll counties, Maryland. Two herds received no treatment and served as checks. Six other herds (2/treatment) were tagged as follows: Guardian® ear tags, 2/head, attached 3 and 8 May; Duo Deckem® ear tags, 2/head, attached 30 May and 6 Jun; and Atroban® ear tags, 2/head, attached 1 Apr and 7 Jun. A ninth herd had an Ectiban® ear tape attached to one identification ear tag on each of ca. 40 heifers on 10 May. Treatment efficacy was determined by counting weekly the number of face flies/face and horn flies/ side of 15 animals.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies on Pastured Dairy Heifers with Insecticidal Ear Tags Or Tapes, 1987

Abstract Ear tag efficacy trials were conducted on pastured herds (15-50 head/herd) of dairy heifers in Howard and Carroll counties, Maryland. Two herds were not tagged and served as checks. During the period of time from 20 Apr-20 May, 2, 3, and 4 herds were tagged (2/head) with the following commercially available tags: Ectrin, Guardian, and Terminator. These herds, as well as 1 additional herd in which the heifers were treated with 1 Ectiban tape attached to an identification tag, were monitored for face flies and horn flies during the months of May-Sep. Fly density was determined by making weekly counts of the number of face flies/face and horn flies/side on 15 animals in each herd.

Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies on Pastured Beef Cattle with Insecticidal Ear Tags, 1985

Abstract Separate ear tag efficacy trials were conducted at the University of Missouri South Farm (Boone Co.) and the Forage Systems Research Center (FSRC) (Linn Co.). At the South Farm, 2 herds of 15 Angus cows each were treated with commercial AtrobanR permethrin 10% active ingredient (AI) and Dual-GardR 7.2% AI permethrin, 2% AI piperonyl butoxide, 9.4% AI chlorpyrifos ear tags at the rate of 2/head on 20 Jun and 18 Jul, respectively. A third herd of similar size and composition was left as an untreated control. At the FSRC, 5 herds of Hereford cows and heifers ranging in size from 50 to 72 head were treated with the following materials: 3 herds had Anchor experimental polyvinyl chloride tags containing 10% (AI) permethrin applied at a rate of 2/head on 5 and 6 Jun. The 2 remaining herds were treated on 23 Jul with commercial EctrinR 8.0% AI fenevalerate and AnchorR 10% (AI) permethrin ear tags at the rate of 1/head. A sixth herd of 34 Hereford cows served as an untreated control. In all cases, assessment of treatment efficacy was made on a weekly basis by repetitive visual inspection of each treatment group until 25 counts were taken. Face flies were counted on the entire face and horn flies on a single side of each animal. Data thus obtained were converted to logio (n + 1) prior to analysis; however, true averages are reported.

Evaluation of Ear Tag Devices for Face Fly and Horn Fly Control on Beef Cattle, 1983

Abstract Atroban permethrin 10% AI ear tags (2 tags/cow), Ectiban permethrin 0.9 g AI ear tag tapes (1 tape/cow), Ectrin fenvalerate 8% AI ear tags (2 tags/cow) and Permectrin permethrin 10% AI ear tags (2 tags/cow) were evaluated for horn fly and face fly control on 8, separately pastured, mixed-breed beef cattle herds. Treatment herd size ranged from 20 to 50 cows/herd. A separately pastured, untreated herd of 50 mixed-breed beef cows served as a control. Horn fly and face fly counts were made on 10 randomly selected cows in each herd at weekly posttreatment intervals. Horn flies were counted on 1 side and face flies on the entire face of each animal.

Relationship of the Face Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) to Pinkeye in Cattle: A Review and Synthesis of the Relevant Literature12

The literature pertaining to the association of the face fly, Musca autumnalis , with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK or pinkeye) is reviewed. Data currently available fulfill the criteria (similar to Koch's postulates) necessary to incriminate the face fly as a vector of Moraxella bovis . Attempts at face fly control can therefore be justified as part of a comprehensive IBK management program.

Comparison of Guardian and Ectrin Ear Tags for Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies, 1983

Abstract Guardian (5% and 7.5%) and Ectrin (8%) ear tags were applied at the rate of 2/hd to cows and calves on 18 and 19 May for fly control evaluation. Two similar untreated herds served as controls. On 12 Rug. the Guardian treatments were terminated due to numerous lost tags. A new test was started 17 Aug. in which two of the previous Guardian treated herds were tagged with a new Guardian (7.5%) ear tag design; cows and calves were tagged as before. One previous Ectrin herd and 1 untreated herd were used to compare the efficacy of the new Guardian ear tag. Pace flies were counted on the face of each of 10 cows in each herd and the number of horn flies on 1 side of the same cows were estimated. The mean fly numbers for each treatment is reported.

Evaluation of Ectiban Pour-On and Horse Fly Spray and Rub-On II Against Face Flies on Horses, 1983

Abstract Ectiban Pour-on with 1.0% permethrin (ICI) and Horse Spray and Rub-on II with 1.0% permethrin, 0.5% piperonyl butoxide and 0.05% pyrethrin (Philips Roxane) were tested for efficacy of face fly control on horses. Wipes were applied at 4 oz per horse with particular attention paid to wiping the face and neck. Control treatments consisted of untreated horses on the same farm as the treated animals. Horses treated with a commercial standard, Farnam’s Wipe V, were also used for comparisons. Flies were counted on the faces of five horses from each treatment group. Counts were done at 1, 3, and 24-hr posttreatment, daily for the first wk and biweekly thereafter until effective control ceased.

Horn and Face Fly Control with Ear Tags and a New Ear Tag Tape, 1982

Abstract Ectron and Atroban ear tags and Ectiban ear tag tapes (0.9 g permethrin/tape) were applied to cattle at Buhl, Idaho, for fly control evaluation. The herds and applications were as follows: Pasture: 1) Atroban tags applied to 25 holstein heifers at 1 tag/head, 2) Ectiban ear tag tapes applied to existing ear tag of 24 hereford heifers at 1 tape/head, 3) Ectrin ear tags applied at 1 tag/head to 18 holstein weaner calves, 4) an untreated group of 10 hereford heifers to act as checks, 5) 3 face fly counts were made on a herd of angus cows in a pasture adjacent to the calves with Ectrin tags. Penned: 1) Ectiban tapes were applied at 1 tape/head to existing tag on 12 angus bulls, 2) Atroban tags applied at 1 tag/head to a mixed herd of 10 steers and heifers, 3) an untagged group of 13 angus bulls was selected to serve as checks. All groups were located within a 2-mile radius. Tags or tapes were applied to the animals on 7 Jun and fly counts made at approximate 2-wk intervals until mid-Sep. Flies were counted with the aid of binoculars or spotting scope. Horn flies were recorded as the number per side and face flies were recorded as the number per head. Ten animals per group were counted on each date. The exception was the number of pasture check animals which was reduced to 5 and then only 2 animals late in the season.

Ear Tags and Spray for Control of Face Flies and Horn Flies on Beef Cattle in Iowa, 1981

Abstract Six, separately pastured, mixed breed cattle herds ranging from 24 to 150 cows were treated in Marshall Co, IA, with the following insecticides: Atroban permethrin 10% AI ear tag (2 tags/cow; 1 tag/every other cow), Ectrin fenvalerate 8% AI ear tag (2 tags/cow and 1 tag/calf; 1 tag/every third cow) and Ravap stirofos and dichloros 1.25% AI spray from 28.7%EC. Ravap was applied daily to cows via a walk-through sprayer. A herd of 135 cows and 117 calves served as an untreated control. All herds except the Ectrin (1 tag/every third cow) and Atroban (1/every other cow) groups were cow-calf herds. Fly counts were taken on 15 randomly selected cattle from each herd between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on the same day each wk. Horn flies were counted only on 1 side of the animal and face flies were counted on the entire face.

Larvadex as a Mineral Block Feedthr0Ugh for Face Fly Control, 1981

Abstract The insect growth regulator, Larvadex, in a mineral block formulation (0.82% AI) was investigated as a potential control method for face flies. Using 2 separate herds, 1 was given untreated mineral block while the other herd was given the Larvadex-treated mineral block. Blocks were replenished as necessary. Initially, 5 one-pt samples of 1-2 day old field-dropped manure were taken per herd and placed in emergence cages. In order to obtain larger numbers of emerging face flies, the samples were increased from 1 pt to ca 2.5 gal, with 3 replicates collected per herd. Each manure replicate was placed in a large shallow galvanized pan. All Diptera were reared to the late instar stage whereupon the prepupal maggots would migrate out of the manure and drop into sand-filled collecting trays to pupate. Face fly pupae were removed, placed in emergence cages and emerged adults were counted.