On this episode on The Turkey Talk Show, we are discussing everything flies. A fly is defined as, 'anything with two wings and which undergoes complete metamorphosis'. We primarily discuss house flies, which are most concern within poultry, for transmitting disease. Dr. Danny McDonald, an entomologist with CSI, joins us to discuss methods for managing flies on your farm.
On this episode on The Turkey Talk Show, we are discussing everything flies. A fly is defined as, 'anything with two wings and which undergoes complete metamorphosis'. We primarily discuss house flies, which are most concern within poultry, for transmitting disease. Dr. Danny McDonald, an entomologist with MWI, joins us to discuss methods for fighting flies on your farm.
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Dr. Danny McDonald, is an entomologist with CSI with over ten years of experience of insect control in the poultry industry. He has a bachelors degree in Horticulture, Masters in Agriculture, focusing on an insect research projects, and a PhD specializing in invasive ant species.
On this episode we are discussing everything flies. A fly is defined as, 'anything with two wings and which undergoes complete metamorphosis. We primarily discuss house flies, which are most concern within poultry. They can easily transmit diseases-including HPAI. They easily pick it up landing on an infected surface, then can put it where they land or if an animal consumes the fly, they can also become infected that way. The best way to combat fly problems are to control the earlier life stages of flies, which is often looked over, along with the adult stage.
Top 2 Ways to Address Fly Problems, according to Dr. McDonald:
1. Cultural control practices(treat the cause): Flies thrive in wet environment so it is best to instal practices to keep turkey bedding as dry as possible, to keep wet manure out.
2. Target the larvae (maggot) stage of flies: Use insect growth regulators(IGR's) to prevent it from molting to next stage. This is done before bird are in the barn. Applied by granule through a spreader, or in liquid form and sprayed on top of new bedding.
These don't affect adult flies, so instead when you do have adult fly problems, you have to use a neurotoxin. Use residual product so it can affect insects that land on the sprayed surfaces. It is good to rotate between the four classes/four modes of action products so flies don't build up a resistance. You can use products that kill flys on contact, when targeting a group of flies on a compost pile or other large gathering spot, but those products will only kill the the flies that have bit hit with the product at that moment, and not affect any later flies that land there.
Right now as it is getting warm outside and it has been raining, is a good time to apply these products if you are getting a new flock in soon. If you have more questions you can talk to your distributor or manufacturer of these products.
Also can contact Dr. Danny McDonald:
Email: danny.mcdonald@controlsolutions.com Phone: 817-991-5581
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