In Long-Term Poultry Manure Accumulations

Fly parasites are natural inhabitants of poultry manure. However, their numbers are reduced to near zero following manure cleanouts or the use of strong pesticides. Without help, fly parasite numbers rebuild slowly. The major fly outbreaks that occur after cleanouts demonstrate the massive effect that natural enemies normally exert on fly populations.

No Side Effects
Long-term Fly Control
Reduces Chemical Use

THE ILLUSTRATION: The fly parasite to the left is a mature adult female that is preparing to sting and kill the pupa. It may also lay an egg inside the pupa that will mature into a new fly parasite. The fly parasite on the right is a new adult that has just chewed its way out of the host pupa.

The remainder of the illustration shows the stages of the fly life cycle. The fly adult, fly eggs and maggots are light grey in the background. The fly pupae are black and each has a fly parasite on it.

QUALITY ASSURED: IPM Laboratories Fly Parasites come in units of 10,000 host pupae. Host pupae are inspected prior to shipment to assure that they carry fly parasites. Empty pupae may have died from fly parasite attack but are not counted as host pupae.

Fly Parasites Prevent Fly Emergence

Fly parasites prevent adult flies from hatching. These tiny beneficial insects kill fly pupae and then use the killed pupae as “nurseries” to grow new parasites. Fly parasites are tiny insects in the wasp family that live only to search out, kill, and lay eggs in fly pupae. They don’t affect mammals and move about unnoticed because of their small size.

Fly Parasite Species IPM Laboratories produces Muscidifurax raptor, a species well suited to the cooler climate of the area of North America that experiences snowy winters. In summer, we add M. raptorellus, which has multiple offspring per host pupa but requires warm temperatures to thrive.

Plan your next fly control program prior to clean-out

Call IPM Laboratories and set up a Fly Parasite introduction program to kill fly pupae. To reestablish a multi-aged fly parasite population, you will need a shipment of fly parasites every week for a minimum of 4 weeks. To exert fly parasite pressure during heavy fly reproduction, choose the 8-week saturation schedule. Also inquire about the Combination Plans that include both Fly Parasites and Hister Beetles.