63-68 63 Z . H . Mohsen et al Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. (2001) 9 (3): 63-68 FIELD EFFICACY OF THREE TYPES OF INSECTICIDES AGAINST LARVAE OF MUSCA DOMESTICA BREEDING IN EQUINE MANURE AND THEIR EFFECTS ON PREDATORY MITES Zohair H. Mohsen, Suhaila H. Mahmood*, Sabah I. Aldulaimi and Abdul- Kareem Hashim State Establishment for Pesticide Production, P. O. Box 5367, Baghdad, Iraq *Natural History Museum, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq ABSTRACT The field efficacy of Actellic (organophosphate), Neporex (insect growth regulator) and Ficam (carbamate), at the application rates of 2-4, 0.4-0.8 and 0.1-0.2 g AI/m2 respectively, was studied against the larvae of Musca domestica L. Results of treatments involving horse manure indicated that Actellic and Neporex produced sharp decrease of larval numbers (close to zero) for 21d. But there was a slight recovery in larval numbers 14 d following treatment with Ficam. The populations of predator mites were not affected due to insecticidal applications. INTRODUCTION Equine manure piles in stables provide suitable habitat for breeding of many muscoid flies, in particular, the house fly Musca domestica L. At seasonal peaks, M. domestica becomes a great nuisance to people and to the precious race horses. At peak times (March- October) control measures should be undertaken to reduce fly population densities to a minimum nonnuisance levels. The present practical method of choice for the control of flies which breed in different types of manure (horse, sheep, cattle, poultry) is the application of insecticides against larvae and adults (Cunningham and Eden, 1970; Yates and Sherman, 1970; Hurd et al., 1979:Mulla and Axelrod,1983;Mohsen et.al.,1986;Killy et.al.,1987). Many investigators stressed on the value of predatory mites, as biocontrol agent, while controlling fly populations by insecticides suggesting the approach of integrated fly control (Axtell, 1963, 1966,1968, 1970; Mohsen et al., 1986). Mohsen et al. (1986) tested 9 insecticides and formulations against mixed populations of M. domestica and predator mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) and found that Temephos, Diflubenzuron and Methoprene were selective in their effects against M. domestica producing no harmful effects on Mc muscaedomesticae. This paper presents data on the efficacy of 3 types of insecticides against M. domestica breeding in equine manure and their effects on predatory mites under field conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS The insecticides tested in this study were: o Actellic (primiphos-methyl 50% EC, organophosphate) [O-2-diethyl-amino-6- methylpyrimidin-4-yl OO-dimethyl phosphorothioate], supplied by ICI, England. o Neporex (cyromazine 50% WP, insect growth regulator) [2-cyclopropyl-amino-4,6- diamino-s-triazine], supplied by Ciba-Geigy, Switzerland. o Facam (bendiocarb 80% W, carbamate) [2,2-dimethyl-1,3-bezodioxol-4 yl methylcarbamate], supplied by Camco, England. 64 Field efficacy of three insecticides Field evaluation of the 3 inescticides against M. domestica was undertaken in 1988 (29 Oct.-19 Nov.) at the horse stables of the Horsemanship Club located 15 km west of Baghdad. Approximately 15 kg of fresh horse dung, containing numerous immature stages of M. domestica and predator mites, were placed in plastic containers (used to collect garbage), measuring 32 cm diameter and 45 cm high. The depth of dung was approximately 40 cm. The surface area of the dung was 805 cm2. Each insecticide was applied by pouring 1 l of distilled water containing the necessary amount of chemicals plus 1 percent sugar to attain the final concentration per surface area (g AI/m²) of Actellic (2-4), Neporex (0.4-0.8) and Ficam (0.1- 0.2). The lower concentrations are the label recommended doses by the specific insecticide manufacturer. Each treatment was replicated 2 times and was run with 1 control which received only l of distilled water. The efficacy of insecticides against larvae of M. domestica and their effects on predator mites were assessed by counting the number of larvae and mites at periods of pretreatment, 1-d, 7-d, 14-d and 21-d posttreatment in 250 g of surface (depth of 5-10 cm) horse dung samples. In the laboratory, larvae of M. domestica were stored and counted and each dung sample was extracted in picric acid by a modified Tullgren funnels for mite collecting. The moisture content was determined for each dung sample. In the field, surface dung temperature was measured at each sampling date. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Fauna of Mites: The fauna of mites in the samples of horse dung was composed of 4 families and 9 species (Table 1). Species of Macrochelidae and Acaridae were most abundant throughout the experimental period followed by species of Parasitidae and Uropodidae.Mahmood and Al- Dulaimi (1988) listed 6 spaecies of predator mites collected from various animal manure and found that Mc.muscaedomesticae, Macrocheles glaber (Muller) and Macrocheles medarius (Berl.) were most abundant in cattle, horse and sheep manure. In an earlier study, Mahmood and Al-Dulaimi (1986) suggested that Mc. muscaedomesticae may be used as a biocontrol agent against M. domestica breeding in manure due to its efficiency in destroying eggs and 1st instar larvae. Table.1: Fauna of mites present in the horse manure samples (250 g) and their relative abundance. Species Relative abundance Family Acaridae Caloglyphus berlesei (Michael)* +++ Lardoglyphus sp.* +++ Family Macrochelidae Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Scopoli) +++ Macrocheles medarius (Berl.) +++ Family Parasitidae Parasitus consanguineus Oudemans & Voidts ++ Parasitus fimetorum (Berl.) ++ Family Uropodidae Fuscoropoda vegetans (De Geer) + Poulodinychus sp. + *not predacious 65 Z . H . Mohsen et al Efficacy of insecticides against house fly larvae: The results of efficacy study of Actellic, Neporex and Ficam against larvae of M. domestica are shown in table 2. The number of larvae declined sharply to almost zero for 21 d after the application of Actellic at 2 and 4 gAI/m².Neporex effect (at o.4 and 0.8 g AI/m²) started 7 d postreatment and the number of larvae remained at zero level for 21 d posttreatment (Table 2).Neporex is known to induce insect growth regulating effect (IGR) in treated insects involving inhibition of pupation and eclosion (Mulla and Axelrod, 1983).Careful examination, in our study, revealed that many Neporex-treated larvae were dead prior to pupation with their integument darkened in a similar manner as described by Mulla and Axelrod (1983). Mohsen and Al-Chalabi (1988) reported that Neporex demeonstrated a broad-spectrum of lethal and developmental activity against the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus Say when applied to larval medium at 0.05-0.1 ppm involving direct kill of larvae and pupae, significant delay in pupation and emergence and decrease of fecundity and egg hatchability. The application of Ficam at 0.1 and 0.2 g AI/ m²) resulted in sharp decrease of larval numbers at d-7 but slight recovery commenced 21d post treatment Table 2: Average numbers of M. domestica larvae and predator mites (2 samples of 250 g) present in horse manure pre- and post treatment with Actellic, Neporex and Ficam. Insecticide/concentration gA/ m² Average no. of larvae and predator mites per 250 g of horse manure posttreatment (d) Pretreatment 1 7 14 21 M. domestica larvae control 50 51 70 33 18 Actellic 2 4 45 0 0 0 0 36 0 0 3 2 Neporex 0.4 0.8 33 46 0 1 0 80 81 0 0 0 Ficam 0.1 0.2 137 0 5 0 4 24 0 2 12 7 Predator mites control 700 1100 280 300 190 Actellic 2 4 720 300 185 300 190 850 172 145 90 51 Neporex 0.4 0.8 864 373 582 452 107 961 783 525 165 97 Ficam 0.1 0.2 615 217 482 501 117 683 657 542 433 165 Date 29/10 30/10 5/11 12/11 19/11 Dung temperature(°C) 28 28 19 15 14 Moisture content (%) 69 70 64 66 63 66 Field efficacy of three insecticides Effect of insecticidal application on mites: The average numbers of predator rmites in 250 g of horse manure samples pre- and posttreatment with Actellic, Neporex and Ficam are presented in Table 2. The population of predator mites was apparently less affected by insecticidal treatment when compared with the population of target fly. The decline in numbers of mites in all of the dung samples seems to be mainly due to temperature decrease rather than the insecticidal effect as figures show in Table 2. With the large numbers of predator mites present in horse dung samples it is expected that the decline in numbers of M. domestica larvae is largely due to a combined activity of insecticides and predator mites (Families Macrochelidae, Parasitidae and Uropodidae). Some of these mites, i.e., Mc. muscaedomesticae and Glyptholaspis confusa (Fao) may produce more than 90 percent reduction in fly population alone without insecticidal application (Axtell, 1963). Predator mites may be successfully implemented in integrated fly control. Axtell (1968, 1970) studied the effect of fly larviciding of dipterans breedingin poultry ranches and concluded that excellent fly control was possible with adulticiding rather that larviciding due to the detrimental effects of nonselective insecticides on predator mite populations . The results of the present study demonstrated that larviciding of M. domestica in horse manure with the supplier recommended doses of Actellic, Neporex and Ficam provided fly control for 21 d with no harmful effect against predator mite population. LITERATURE CITED Axtell, R. C. 1963 Effect of Macrochelidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata) on house fly production from dairy cattle manure. J. Econ. Ent., 56(3): 317-321. Axtell, R. C. 1966 Comparative toxicities of insecticides to house fly larvae and Macrocheles muscaedomesticae, a mite predator of the house fly. J. Econ. Ent., 59: 1128- 1130. Axtell, R. C. 1968 Integrated house fly control: populations of fly larvae and predacious mites, Macrocheles muscaedomesticae, in poultry manure after larvicide treatment. J. Econ. Ent., 61: 245-249. Axtell, R. C. 1970 Integrated fly-control program for caged-poultry houses. J. Econ. Ent., 63: 400-405. Cunningham, H. B. and Eden, W. G. 1955 Toxicity of several insecticidse to house fly larvae. J. Econ. Ent., 48 (1): 109-110. Hurd, M. A., Olton, G. S. and Ware, G. W. 1979 Impact of Stirofos oral larvicide on the seasonal abundance of house flies in dairy cow manure in central Arizona. J. Econ. Ent., 72 (2): 184-187. Killy, J. A., Stubbs, M. S. and Pinniger, D. B. 1987 Laboratory evaluation of cyromazine against insecticide-resistant field strains of Musca domestica. Med. Vet. Ent., 1: 65-69. Mahmood, S. H. and Al-Dulaimi, S. I. 1986 Biological studies on the mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae (Acarina: Macrochelidae). J. Biol. Sci. Res., 17(2): 329-338. 67 Z . H . Mohsen et al Mahmood, S. H. and Al-Dulaimi, S. I. 1988 Ecological study of new records of Iraqi predator mites developing in animal manure. J. Biol. Sci. Res., 19 (suppl.): 865-876. Mohsen, Z. H. and Al-Chalabi, B. M. 1988 Lethal and developmental effects of cyromazine against Culex quinquefasciatus. J. Biol. Sci. Res., 19 (3): 665-673. Mohsen, Z. H., Mahmood, S. H., Al-Dulaimi, S. I. And Al-Faisal, A. H. M. 1986 Comparative toxicity of pesticides against house fly Musca domestica and predator mite Macrocheles muscaedomesticae under laboratory conditions. J. Biol. Sci. Res., 17 (3): 207-214. Mulla, M. S. and Axelrod, H. 1983 Evaluation of Larvadex, a new IGR, for the control of pestiferous flies on poultry ranches. J. Econ. Ent., 76 (3): 520-524. Yates, J. R. III and Sherman, M. 1970 Latent differential toxicity of insecticides to larvae and adults of six fly species. J. Econ. Ent., 63 (1): 18-23. 68 Field efficacy of three insecticides Bull. Iraq nat. Hist. Mus. (2001) 9 (3): 63-68 Muscaالفعالية الحقلية لثالث انواع من المبيدات الحشرية ضد يرقات الذباب المنزلي domestica في براز الخيول وتأثيراتها على الحلم المفترس التي تتكاثر ، صباح ابراهيم الدليمي، عبد الكرمي هاشم*زهري حسني حمسن، سهيلة حياوي حممود ، بغداد، العراق ٥٣٦٧. ب. الزراعية، صاملنشأة العامة النتاج مبيدات اآلفات متحف التاريخ الطبيعي، جامعة بغداد، العراق* الخالصة مبيـد مـنظم (، نيبـوركس )مبيد فوسفوري عضوي(درست الفعالية احلقلية للمبيدات أكتلك -٠,١(، )٠,٨-٠,٤(، )٤-٢(باســتخدام الرتاكيــز ) مبيــد كارباميــت(، فيكــام )لنمــو احلشــرات Muscaغــم مــن املــادة الفعالــة لكــل مــرت مربــع علــى التــوايل ضــد يرقــات الذبابــة املنزليــة )٠,٢ domestica L. بينـــت النتـــائج ان اعـــداد . الـــيت تتكـــاثر يف بـــراز اخليـــول يف نـــادي الفروســـية يوم وذلك بعد رش املبيدين اكتلك ونيبوركس ٢١الذباب استمرت منخفضة قريباً من الصفر ملدة ومل يتــأثر . يــوم مــن املعاملــة ١٤يكــام فــان الــذباب اســرتجع نشــاطه بشــكل طفيــف بعــد أمــا املبيــد ف .احللم املفرتس بسبب املعاملة باملبيدات الثالث