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Parasitism of the house fly parasitoid Spalangia cameroni on Norwegian pig farms: local effect of release method

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Abstract

Mass release of parasitoids (Hymentoptera: Pteromalidae) is one possible control method of house flies (Musca domestica L.) on livestock farms. To improve the success of this method, however, there is a need for more detailed recommendations. In the present study, parasitism was evaluated in and around pens following release of the parasitoid Spalangia cameroni Perkins by hand and from containers. The study was conducted at conventional Norwegian pig farms with scattered breeding grounds for house flies. The experiment was carried out twice, with a total of seven trials of each release method followed by four weeks of monitoring parasitism by house fly sentinel pupae. No significant difference was found between the two release methods. Parasitism decreased with temperature (range 18–23°C) and was low on farms with few sites for the parasitoids to hide.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the farmers for allowing us on their premises. We also acknowledge: Arnulf Soleng, Anders Aak, and Torjus Lundevall for assistance in the field; Eline Hågvar for advice and support throughout the study; Heidi Heggen, Arnulf Soleng, Bjørn Arne Rukke, and Henrik Skovgård for valuable comments on the manuscript; and Lotte Peschel, from the Danish pest infestation laboratory, who kindly taught us how to culture house flies in the laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pest Control, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, P.O. Box 4404 Nydalen, 0403, Oslo, Norway

    Tone Birkemoe

  2. Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Aas, Norway

    Håvard Øyrehagen

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  1. Tone Birkemoe
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  2. Håvard Øyrehagen
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Correspondence to Tone Birkemoe.

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Handling Editor: Torsten Meiners.

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Birkemoe, T., Øyrehagen, H. Parasitism of the house fly parasitoid Spalangia cameroni on Norwegian pig farms: local effect of release method. BioControl 55, 583–591 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9280-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-010-9280-3

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