Effects of targets impregnated with the chitin synthesis inhibitor triflumuron on the blowfly Lucilia sericata

Abstract

The effects of exposure of adults of the blowfly Lucilia sericata (Meigen) for 24 h to cloth targets impregnated with the chitin synthesis inhibitor triflumuron plus sucrose or sucrose only, were considered. When both male and female L. sericata were exposed to targets treated with sucrose only, the percentage egg hatch varied between 60–75%. When both sexes were exposed to targets treated with 10% triflumuron plus sucrose the percentage egg hatch varied between 3–7%. When females alone were exposed to triflumuron, prior to the introduction of unexposed males, egg hatch varied between 4–14%. The exposure of males alone to 10% triflumuron treated targets, prior to the introduction of unexposed virgin females, did not give any consistent significant decrease in the mean percentage egg hatch. However, repetition of this trial with males exposed to targets treated with 15 or 20% triflumuron, resulted in a percentage egg hatch of 3.1% and 10.3%, respectively. These results suggest that at relatively high target concentrations, males can transfer effective doses of triflumuron to unexposed virgin females. The exposure of adults to triflumuron treated targets did not significantly increase the mortality of either male or female L. sericata. Furthermore, bioassays showed that there was no significant decline in the ovicidal effectiveness of targets treated with 10% triflumuron and sucrose solution following exposure to sun and rain for up to 8 weeks in 1995 and 1996. The results suggest that targets treated with triflumuron suspension concentrate and sucrose may form the basis of an effective system for the control of L. sericata in the field. However, the relatively high concentrations of triflumuron required and the low efficiency with which males are able to transfer effective doses to unexposed females may diminish one of the main theoretical advantages of using a chitin synthesis inhibitor, such as triflumuron, over a conventional insecticide.

Diflubenzuron effects on reproduction and hemolymph ecdysteroid levels in female locusts Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål, 1775) (Orthoptera, Acrididae)

“…The most frequently observed effect is a decrease in egg production and a reduction of egg hatching. This has been reported in insect species from several different orders : Hemiptera (Kim et al 1992), Orthoptera (Lim & Lee 1982), Coleoptera (Soltani 1987, Mani et al 1997, Marco et al 1998, Diptera (Smith & Wall 1998), Neuroptera (Rumpf et al 1998, Medina et al 2002.…”

Potential of essential oils to prevent fly strike and their effects on the longevity of adultLucilia sericata

“…Control of blow fly strike is crucial for the sheep industry because L. sericata larvae are facultative ectoparasites infesting suppurative wounds as a primary agent of cutaneous myiasis. The available control methods are trapping (Wall and Smith 1997, Smith and Wall 1998, Hayes et al 1999) and conventional insecticides (French et al 1994b). Trapping is an attractive option but has disadvantages.…”

Suppression of the blowflyLucilia sericatausing odour‐baited triflumuron‐impregnated targets

“…Effective autosterilizing systems have been developed for the tsetse flies, Glossina pallidipes and G. morsitans morsitans, using the juvenile hormone analogue pyriproxyfen (Hargrove & Langley, 1990) and for the house fly, Musca domestica, using the chitin synthesis inhibitor triflumuron (Howard & Wall, 1996a). It has been shown that triflumuron may also be a suitable agent for the incorporation into a target control system for L. sericata, as it causes transovarial ovicidal effects following ingestion by adult female L. sericata and males are capable of transferring effective doses to unexposed females following mating (Smith & Wall, 1998).…”