Factors Affecting Localized Abundance and Distribution of Lesser Mealworm in Earth-Floor Broiler Houses in Subtropical Australia

Abstract

Factors that influence the localized abundance and distribution of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), in litter of two compacted earth-floor broiler houses in subtropical Australia were studied using various experimental manipulations. Numbers of lesser mealworms substantially increased inside caged areas and under uncaged empty feed pans placed in open areas of the houses. These populations were found to be localized and independent of chicken-feed, manure, and high beetle populations that normally occur under existing feed pans. Substantial horizontal movement of larvae to under feed pans was recorded. Placing metal barriers around these pans significantly restricted this movement. In almost all treatments, lesser mealworms typically peaked in numbers during the middle of the flock time. This temporal pattern of abundance also was observed under pans within barriers, where relatively low insect numbers occurred, but it was not observed in uncaged open areas (where chickens had complete access). It is likely that larvae do not establish in open areas, but fluctuate in numbers as they either move to refuges away from chickens or suffer high rates of mortality. In these refuges, larvae peak in numbers and then leave the litter environment to pupate in the earth floor before the end of the flock time. This behavior might be exploited for management of lesser mealworm by targeting applications of control agents.

Application of Spinosad Increases the Susceptibility of Insecticide-Resistant <I>Alphitobius diaperinus</I> (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Pyrethroids

“…In all trial broiler houses, chicken feed and water supply lines ran the length of the houses and were distributed approximately evenly across the width of each house. Circular feed pans (300 mm in diameter) and square drinker cups (70 by 70 mm) were distributed at regular intervals along respective supply lines (Lambkin et al 2008).…”

“…The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is a cosmopolitan insect pest of broiler houses (Axtell and Arends 1990), where it lives predominately in bedding used to cover the ßoors (Harding and Bissell 1958;Axtell and Arends 1990;Lambkin et al , 2008. As A. diaperinus can transmit avian and human food-borne diseases and cause signiÞcant structural damage to broiler houses, large populations of the pest pose signiÞcant economic threats to the production of chicken meat worldwide (Axtell and Arends 1990, Steelman 1996, McGoldrick 2004.…”

The lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus: a noxious pest or a promising nutrient source?

“…), Australia (Lambkin ; Lambkin & Rice , ; Lambkin et al . ) and New Zealand (Bates et al . ) reveal the wide distribution of this pest throughout the world.…”

Development of pull and push–pull systems for management of lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, in poultry houses using alarm and aggregation pheromones

“…Modern broiler facilities offer suitable environmental conditions for A. diaperinus proliferation, including high temperatures, dark and sheltered sites, moisture and food availability. As a consequence, poultry houses contain high densities of larvae and adults that aggregate predominantly under feeders and along house edges . In addition, all A. diaperinus life stages are susceptible to infection by bacteria, viruses and fungi, characterizing these insects as poultry pathogen vectors .…”