East-central South Dakota Research Articles

Parasites and predators of the face fly in east-central South Dakota.

A 2-year study was conducted in east-central South Dakota to determine natural insect and nematode para-sites and predators of Musca autumnalis De Geer. The insects A phaereta pallipes (Say) and Aleochara bimaculata Gravenhorst were parasites, but their rates of parasitism were low-7.59 and 1.08%, respectively. A nematode. Heterotylenchus autumnalis Nickle, parasitized 5.01% of the flies dissected in 1969 and 6.62% in 1970. Results of predation experiments indicated that adult Spaeridium spp, were not predators of the face fly under the conditions of this study. The staphylinids Philonthus cruentatus Gmelin, P. rectangularis Sharp. and A. bimaculata were predators of larval face flies. The histerid Hister abbreviatus F., while not numerous enough in bovine manure to be considered a major natural enemy, was an efficient predator of face flies under laboratory conditions.

Succession of Adult Coleoptera in Bovine Manure in East Central South Dakota1

A two-year study was conducted in east central South Dakota to determine the species and succession pattern of adult Coleoptera in bovine manure. A total of 38 species, representing the families Histeridae, Hydrophilidae, Scarabaeidae and Staphylinidae, was collected. Three species, Platystethus americanus Erichson, Cercyon pygmaeus (Illiger), and C. quisquilius L., accounted for 50+% of all beetles recovered. Succession patterns indicated that hydrophilids immediately aggregated on the manure, but as the dung aged the number of hydrophilids decreased. The staphylinids occurred in greatest number on manure 72 hours old, and the scarabs on dung aged 47—72 hours. The histerids, which occurred in the fewest numbers, were found most frequently on 72-hr-old manure.

Percentage of Raccoons and Skunks Reached by Egg Baits

Chicken eggs containing demethylchlortetracycline (I)MGT) were distributed on a 25-squaremile study area during August and September 1970. Eighty-seven percent of the raccoons ( Procy071 lotor ) and 29 percent of the skunks (Mephitis mephitis) collected during the follonving 7 months had consumed treated eggs. BAITS FOR RACCOONS AND SKUNKS * Nelson and Linder 1327 predation on experimental cotton rat populations. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 32( 4 ) :69S711. WATSON, A., AND R. Moss. 1970 ( 1969 ) . Dominance, spacing behaviour and aggression in relation to population limitation in vertebrates. Pages 167-218. In A. Watson [Editor], Animal populations in relation to their food resources Symp. British Ecol. Soc. X. 47Tpp. WIEGERT, R. G. 1972a. Animal populations in relation to their food resources. Edited by A. Watson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford and Edinburgh. 1970. 477pp. g 5 net. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 36(2):676477. 1972b. Population dynamics of cotton rats ( Sigmodon h. hispidt4s ) and meadow voles ( Microtus p. pennsylvanicus ) in field enclosures in South Carolina. Bull. Georgia Acad. Sci. 30. ( In press. ) Received for publication April 13, 1972. Many people believe that lethal toxicants should not be used to reduce animal populations that cause damage. A substitute technique that has received attention is the use of chemosterilants to limit reproduction ( Balser 1964 ) . One of the problems in using chemosterilants for animal control is getting the baits containing the chemical to the target species. Preliminary studies in South Dakota indicated iat severe weather 1 Funds were provided by Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Project W-75-R in South Dakota through the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit ( South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks; Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife South Dakota State University; and Wildlife Management Institute, cooperating). conditions and limited movements of skunks and raccoons precluded studies of bait distribution during winter and early spring ( Nelson 1972 ) . The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency of eggs for baits during summer and fall for skunks and raccoons. METHODS AND MATERIALS C:hicken eggs containing 50 mg DMCT, a physiological marker masked in 1 ml of cherry flavored syrup, were distributed in a 25-square-mile study area in Brookings and Lake counties in east-central South Dakota. The study area is located in an agricultural region with wetland areas found among a li ited movements of skunks IITERATURE CITED CALDWELL, L. D. 1964. An in^restigation of competition in natural populations of mice. J. Mammal. 45(1):12-30. PETRUSEWICZ, K. 1963. Population growth induced by disturbance in the ecological structure of the population. Ekologia Polska Seria A 11 ( 3 ): 87-125. ( Polish summary. ) PROVO, M. 1962. The role of energy utilization, habitat selection, temperature and light in the regulation of a Sigmodon population. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. of Georgia. 73pp. SCHNELL, J. H. 1964. An experimental study of carrying capacity based on the disappearance rates of cotton rats ( Sigmodon hispidis Komareki) introduced into enclosed areas of natural habitat. Ph.D. Thesis. Univ. of Georgia. 45pp. 1968. The limiting effects of natural This content downloaded from 207.46.13.64 on Sat, 03 Sep 2016 04:51:17 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms

Comparison of Dust Bags to Backrubbers for Control of Horn Flies and Face Flies on Beef Cattle in East-Central South Dakota12

In 1970, a study was conducted in east-central South Dakota to compare effectiveness of dust bags to back rubbers in controlling horn flies. Haematobia irritans (L.), and face flies, Musca autumnalis De Geer, on beef Cattle. These devices were placed in a self-applicatory situation. The dust hags were tilled with 1.816 kg of 3% crotoxyphos, and the back rubber contained a mixture of 0.946 liter toxaphene 6 EC to 18.925 liters used motor oil. Both self-applicatory devices provided excellent horn fly control on cows and calves throughout the test period, but face fly control was much less effective.