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Biological control of Musca domestica and Stomoxys calcitrans by mass releases of the parasitoid Spalangia cameroni on two Norwegian pig farms

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Abstract

House flies (Musca domestica L.) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans (L.)) (Diptera: Muscidae) are nuisance pests on livestock farms. In the present study we tested the effect of biweekly mass release of Spalangia cameroni Perkins (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), the most common parasitoid of house flies and stable flies in southern Norway, on pig premises with scattered fly breeding sites. The study spanned two successive summer periods, with two control and two release units each year. Spalangia cameroni suppressed both house flies and stable flies in one release unit during the first year, and stable flies in one release unit the second year. The apparent lack of success in fly control in the other release units was likely due to immigration of flies in two of the trials and high temperatures in one trial. Recommendations concerning release of S. cameroni in similar pig production premises are given.

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Acknowledgements

Karen Riddervold, Nina Huynh and Håvard Øyrehagen gave valuable help with lab and field work and further help was given by Reidar Mehl, Preben Ottesen and Toril Compaore with field work. Ole Tom Bøe and Bjørn Gevelt kindly let us on to their premises and Lotte Peschel, Danish pest infestation laboratory, taught us what is worth knowing about culturing of house flies. Åge Tverdal gave invaluable statistical advices. Henrik Skovgård has been a great consultant in practical as well as theoretical parts of the work and also gave valuable comments on the manuscript. Eline Hågvar and Stephen J. Coulson kindly commented on the manuscript and corrected the English.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of pest control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P. O. Box 4404 Nydalen, NO-0403, Oslo, Norway

    Tone Birkemoe, Arnulf Soleng & Anders Aak

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  1. Tone Birkemoe
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  2. Arnulf Soleng
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  3. Anders Aak
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Correspondence to Tone Birkemoe.

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Handling editor: Torsten Meiners.

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Birkemoe, T., Soleng, A. & Aak, A. Biological control of Musca domestica and Stomoxys calcitrans by mass releases of the parasitoid Spalangia cameroni on two Norwegian pig farms. BioControl 54, 425–436 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9190-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-008-9190-9

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