Estimation of the effectiveness of autumn surface cultivation for the control of the Australian soldier fly

In New Zealand, the Australian soldier fly, Inopus rubriceps (Macquart) has two peaks of emergence and egg laying per year. The eggs are laid into pasture during late spring (November-December) and autumn (March-April) and close grazing of the sward at these times limits the recruitment of new larvae into the soil populations. Hard grazing (taking pasture to 500 kgha:' DM standing) at the peaks of flights resulted in an estimated 75-80% control of soldier fly larvae when applied for 5 consecutive flight seasons (2.5 years). Grazing of moderate intensity (to 1000-1500 kg ha' DM) reduced population densities by 45-60% over the same period. The effects of close grazing on soldier fly densities were cumulative. One grazing in the week of peak flights was found to be as effective as up to four separate grazings over the extended pupation, emergence, flight, and egg laying periods. The effect of close grazing was to create unfavourable soil microclimatic conditions for egg survival in particular.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pasture management to control Australian soldier fly

Robertson

Davison

Firth

1981

“…Wilcocks & Hewitt (1971) showed that intensive surface cultivation was an effective method of reducing soldier fly populations. The lack of an effective chemical (Hewitt 1964) or other control measure emphasised this approach.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of insecticides during autumn to control soldier fly larvae and increase pasture production

Dixon

1977

A range of insecticides, their formulations, rates of application, and method of distribution were tested. Carbofuran and isophenphos proved most effective, but control was poor (46-66% mortality in autumn trials). There was no difference between seed treatment and granular formulations although spraying high rates (6.0 kg a.i.z'ha) on to existing pasture proved effective. Results indicate that during winter-spring pasture production was related to larval population and that a population reduction of 1000 larvae/rn-is likely to produce an additional 156 kg DM/ha, i.e., in these trials a 3-10% growth response. Comparisons are made with other published data to support this suggestion.

The soldier fly problem

Wilcocks

1974