Environmental Entomology (1981) 10, 343-345
Donald A. Rutz and Richard C. Axtell (1981)
House fly (Musca domestica) control in broiler-breeder poultry houses by pupal parasites (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae): Indigenous parasite species and releases of Muscidifurax raptor
Environmental Entomology 10 (3), 343-345
Abstract: Seven species of house fly pupal parasites, Spalangia cameroni Perkins, Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Sanders, S. endius Walker, S. nigroaenea Curtis, Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Rondani), S. drosophilae Ashmead, and S. nigra Latreille, were recovered from fly pupae exposed in broiler-breeder poultry houses. S. cameroni and M. raptor ranked first and second, respectively, in overall relative abundance and together both species accounted for 91% of all parasites collected.
Weekly sustained releases of an indigenous strain of M. raptor resulted in a significantly higher rate of house fly parasitism, concurrent with a significant reduction in the house fly population at the release farm in comparison to farms without parasite releases.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
