J.
Med. Ent.
Vol. 12.
DO.
25 SepteD1ber 1975
3: 338-340
EVALUATION OF THE ELECTROCUTOR GRID TRAP BAITED WITH CARBON DIOXIDE AGAINST THE STABLE FLY, STOMOXYS CALC/TRANS (L.) (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE)l By C. E. Schreck, K. Posey and H. K. Gouck2 Abstract: Combinations of carbon dioxide, ultraviolet light, and plexiglass were tested as attractants with an electrocutor grid to determine the most effective of these methods of killing stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), in the field. The combination of the electrocutor grid and carbon dioxide was highly selective and usually attracted and killed only stable flies during the winter in north central Florida. It thus provides a speciesoriented killing method at this time of year.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Before we could determine the value of the electrocutor grid in places where livestock are concen tra ted, we had to find a good method of attracting the flies. Those we selected for a test of a ttractiveness were as follows. (1) Carbon dioxide (C02); DeFoliart & Morris (1967) and Hoy (1970) 'Mention of a commercial or proprietary product in this paper does not constitute an endorsement of this product by the USDA. 'Insects Affecting Man Research Laboratory, Agr. Res. Serv., USDA, Gainesville, Florida 32604, U.S.A.
Downloaded from http://jme.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on May 13, 2016
The current aim of pest control research is to emphasize selective, environmentally acceptable methods of dealing with noxious pests. Thus various mechanical techniques of control are regarded with renewed interest. The present paper reports results with one such form of mechanical control-the electrocutor grid-in a study made primarily to determine whether the grid could be made selective as well as effective so that only specific insect pests would be killed. The insect species selected for the test was the stable fly, Stomo)(ys calcitrans (L.), partly because populations in north central Florida remained relatively high in 1971-1972 due to an abnormally warm winter. However, we were also interested in methods of controlling this insect because the stable fly is a vicious biter, has a wide range of hosts, and may be more formidable since both sexes are blood feeders. If left unchecked, they can cause human discomfort and significant economic loss due to reduced liVestock weight gains and milk production (Bruce 1958, Cheng 1958, Granett & Hansens 1957). Poor agricultural practices, abundance of rotting aquatic vegetation of lakes and seashores, or any improper disposal of vegetable wastes are major sources of infestations.
showed that CO2 is effectivc in attracting stable flies, and our work (unpub!.) strongly supported their conclusions. (2) Plexiglass; our earlier success with plexiglass traps (Schreck et al. 1970) had led us to believe that this material might be helpful in attracting stable flies. (3) Ultraviolet (UV) light; UV light is generally considered attractive to a wide number of insect species, and some evidence exists that it may be attractive to stable flies (Driggers 1971, Schiefer 1970). We then considered ways to evaluate these materials for attracting stable flies to the electrocutor grid. The electrocutor grid chosen for the tests was a Model no. 380, Gilbert Electronics, Inc., Jonesboro, Ark. The unit is 70 em high by 64 em wide overall; the killing grid surface is 46 em high by 56 em wide. A tray attached beneath the grid collects the electrocuted insects. Two locations were selected for our tests, one a stable for riding and boarding horses at Gainesville, Fla.; the other a cattle feeder lot near Chiefland Fla. In the Ist series of tests (5 trials) at the hors~ stable, the grid was located in an open area about 21 m from the southwest corner of the building and operated resting on a base 46 cm high. Various combinations of the 3 potential attractants were provided as follows: (I) a clear plexiglass slottcd enclosure for the grid (80 cm high by 62 em wide); (2) fluorescent UV lights (2 Sylvania® F20Tl2/BL 20-watt lamps); and (3) metered CO2 supplied by a tank and released (at the rate of I liter/min.) through a horizontally secured perforated plastic tube and then down over the vertically mounted grid. The grid plus attractants was operated 24 hr each test day. Dead flies were counted and separated according to sex every 24 hr. Three replications of each of the 5 combinations were tested. The grid alone was not used as a control in these tests, but later tests demonstrate that very few flies (x
Med. Ent.
Vol. 12.
DO.
25 SepteD1ber 1975
3: 338-340
EVALUATION OF THE ELECTROCUTOR GRID TRAP BAITED WITH CARBON DIOXIDE AGAINST THE STABLE FLY, STOMOXYS CALC/TRANS (L.) (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE)l By C. E. Schreck, K. Posey and H. K. Gouck2 Abstract: Combinations of carbon dioxide, ultraviolet light, and plexiglass were tested as attractants with an electrocutor grid to determine the most effective of these methods of killing stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), in the field. The combination of the electrocutor grid and carbon dioxide was highly selective and usually attracted and killed only stable flies during the winter in north central Florida. It thus provides a speciesoriented killing method at this time of year.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Before we could determine the value of the electrocutor grid in places where livestock are concen tra ted, we had to find a good method of attracting the flies. Those we selected for a test of a ttractiveness were as follows. (1) Carbon dioxide (C02); DeFoliart & Morris (1967) and Hoy (1970) 'Mention of a commercial or proprietary product in this paper does not constitute an endorsement of this product by the USDA. 'Insects Affecting Man Research Laboratory, Agr. Res. Serv., USDA, Gainesville, Florida 32604, U.S.A.
Downloaded from http://jme.oxfordjournals.org/ by guest on May 13, 2016
The current aim of pest control research is to emphasize selective, environmentally acceptable methods of dealing with noxious pests. Thus various mechanical techniques of control are regarded with renewed interest. The present paper reports results with one such form of mechanical control-the electrocutor grid-in a study made primarily to determine whether the grid could be made selective as well as effective so that only specific insect pests would be killed. The insect species selected for the test was the stable fly, Stomo)(ys calcitrans (L.), partly because populations in north central Florida remained relatively high in 1971-1972 due to an abnormally warm winter. However, we were also interested in methods of controlling this insect because the stable fly is a vicious biter, has a wide range of hosts, and may be more formidable since both sexes are blood feeders. If left unchecked, they can cause human discomfort and significant economic loss due to reduced liVestock weight gains and milk production (Bruce 1958, Cheng 1958, Granett & Hansens 1957). Poor agricultural practices, abundance of rotting aquatic vegetation of lakes and seashores, or any improper disposal of vegetable wastes are major sources of infestations.
showed that CO2 is effectivc in attracting stable flies, and our work (unpub!.) strongly supported their conclusions. (2) Plexiglass; our earlier success with plexiglass traps (Schreck et al. 1970) had led us to believe that this material might be helpful in attracting stable flies. (3) Ultraviolet (UV) light; UV light is generally considered attractive to a wide number of insect species, and some evidence exists that it may be attractive to stable flies (Driggers 1971, Schiefer 1970). We then considered ways to evaluate these materials for attracting stable flies to the electrocutor grid. The electrocutor grid chosen for the tests was a Model no. 380, Gilbert Electronics, Inc., Jonesboro, Ark. The unit is 70 em high by 64 em wide overall; the killing grid surface is 46 em high by 56 em wide. A tray attached beneath the grid collects the electrocuted insects. Two locations were selected for our tests, one a stable for riding and boarding horses at Gainesville, Fla.; the other a cattle feeder lot near Chiefland Fla. In the Ist series of tests (5 trials) at the hors~ stable, the grid was located in an open area about 21 m from the southwest corner of the building and operated resting on a base 46 cm high. Various combinations of the 3 potential attractants were provided as follows: (I) a clear plexiglass slottcd enclosure for the grid (80 cm high by 62 em wide); (2) fluorescent UV lights (2 Sylvania® F20Tl2/BL 20-watt lamps); and (3) metered CO2 supplied by a tank and released (at the rate of I liter/min.) through a horizontally secured perforated plastic tube and then down over the vertically mounted grid. The grid plus attractants was operated 24 hr each test day. Dead flies were counted and separated according to sex every 24 hr. Three replications of each of the 5 combinations were tested. The grid alone was not used as a control in these tests, but later tests demonstrate that very few flies (x
