Fly Parasites

Target Pest:

Controls flies in animal manure accumulations and other filth fly breeding sites. Very effective against the housefly, biting stable flies, garbage flies, and the lesser housefly which make up to 95% of the flies in manure and other site accumulations. Five percent of the other flies are also parasitized, such as false stable flies, face flies, flesh flies and horn flies, but control is less complete on those flies which complete their life cycle widely dispersed in the pasture. 

Description:

These small parasitic wasps are the most natural enemy of flies during the pupa stage. We provide several species of the tiny wasps in the genera Muscidifurax and Spalangia that attack and have adapted to different climates with a higher proportion of Spalangia in proportion to Muscidifurax. The eggs of the parasitic wasps are laid inside the flies pupae and the developing flies provide food from within for the young wasps.  

Parasitic wasps do not bite, sting, swarm or bother anything else, humans or animals included. Parasitic wasps are nocturnal and are rarely seen during the day. They operate to a depth of 8 inches in the manure, homing in with their biological radar on fly larvae that are about to pupate.  

Product information:

Parasitic wasps arrive in wood shavings developing inside the fly pupa and when fully grown they will cut a hole in the pupal case and exit as adults searching for more fly larvae, seeking to lay their eggs where the flies pupate. The parasites must not be left in direct sunlight or hot areas. They need to be held at 70° to 80°F, increasing to 85°F for more rapid emergence. They should be emerging and ready to release within a day or two.                                                                                                
                         

                                                                                                                

                                                                         

Parasite Application

Your insects arrive in a bag as parasitized pupae in a sawdust medium. The pupae are at various stages of development. Store at room temperature away from dogs and ants. Check for hatching over the next day or two by holding the bag up to a light source. When the first gnat-like parasites appear inside the bag it's time for application. Once dispersed, hatching will continue over the next week.

The parasites are nocturnal, thus the optimal release time is dusk. Apply the parasites around the edges of "hot spots" areas where manure and urine are accumulated - where flies are crawling and breeding. Scratch a 1/2" hole in the ground with your heel, drop in a tablespoon of the sawdust and pupae mixture, and cover the hole with dirt, manure, or straw. Repeat this process every 10-20 feet until the package contents are gone. Use a little extra in problem "hot spots".

Good sanitation is the foundation of any successful fly control program. In most cases, removing breeding material is the most feasible means of breaking the fly life cycle. Corrals, run-in sheds and barns should be designed to facilitate the rapid and efficient removal of manure and other fly-breeding materials. Feeders should be constructed to minimize waste and prevent manure and feed from accumulating beneath them. Fly breeding materials should be removed and disposed of at least weekly. Large round hay bales should be stored on a well-drained site. Sanitation should be completed if fly breeding is to be minimized. Areas commonly missed in clean-up include around fence posts, outside and under fences, feeders or hay racks, corners in barns and stalls, around silos or other feed storage areas, and areas around water sources. Manure and other fly breeding materials are most easily disposed of by spreading them thinly on pasture or cropland. Manure can also be stock-piled in one place and composted to reduce fly breeding problems. However, to prevent flies from developing in the outer layers, cover the waste with plastic. Fly development can be inhibited if manure and other fly breeding materials are kept dry. Corral areas should be designed to promote adequate drainage and eliminate wet spots where fly breeding is more likely to occur. Similarly, good drainage away from manure stockpiles will also promote drying and help reduce fly breeding. Automatic waterers should be maintained properly to prevent leaks. In addition to sanitation, more traditional methods of fly control should not be ignored when instituting a fly control program. Screening is an excellent way to keep flies out of areas, such as feed rooms, tack rooms and box stalls. Fans directing a blast downward and outward above doors will help prevent flies from entering barns. If only a few flies are present, sticky fly tapes can be used as a remedial measure. Other means of non-chemical control are less effective. For example, electric fly zappers are of limited value and are usually not effective in areas where flies are actively breeding. The same is true for the numerous fly jugs and traps available. These devices may trap a few flies, but are of little value in reducing total fly populations where active breeding is taking place.

Biological control is another non-chemical method promoted for house fly and stable fly control. Several species of parasitic wasps may be purchased to develop a good fly control program. With this method, the female wasps deposit their eggs in the fly pupae and the wasp larvae then kill and consume the developing fly. Which will provide long-term fly control.  

Fly predators are naturally occurring enemy of all manure breeding pest flies.  However, they are usually not found in a large enough population to control an aggressive fly population.  During the fly season these parasitic wasps must be replenished about once every 3 weeks, or more frequently.  They are simply not able to multiply in sufficient numbers to control the vast number of flies usually present around horse stable areas.  One release of the fly parasites can temporarily reduce the population of lies. Fly parasites will travel up to 80 yards to find a food source (fly pupae) so keep that in mind as you are distributing them around the edges of “hot spots” – areas where manure and urine are accumulated and thus where flies are crawling and breeding. Fly parasites do not bite or sting humans or other animals and are so tiny that they go largely unnoticed.  These wasps are harmless to animals and people so that they are a safe, non-toxic means of biological control both stable and house flies. Fly parasites are another tool that should be considered when fighting the battle against flies on horse facilities