Journal o/ Chemical Ecology, Vol. 10, No. 2, 1984

FIELD EVALUATION OF CHEMICAL ATTRACTANTS AGAINST THE FLY Fanniafemoralis (DIPTERA: MUSCIDAE)

M I R S. M U L L A ,

HAROLD

AXELROD,

and YIH-SHEN

HWANG

Deparlmenl o/" Entomology University of California Riverside, California 92521 (Received February 18, 1983; revised May 23, 1983) A b s t r a c t - - F o u r chemical compounds previously shown to be attractants to

Hippelales eye gnats and houseflies were evaluated against Fannia femoralis (Stein). Two of the compounds, trimethylamine hydrochloride and n-butyric acid, were determined to be the principal attractants against this fly. A composition containing trimethylamine hydrochloride (yielding trimethylamine in presence of water), n-butyric acid, and an anchovy meal inert carrier proved highly attractive. To evaluate the practical use of the synthetic fly attractant (SFA) formulation, a large-scale trial over an entire poultry ranch was implemented using SFA formulation and a sugar toxicant (as a killing agent) in specially designed traps. Within 2 weeks after initiation of S FA-toxicant treatments, significant reduction in F.J~moralis population from the pretreatment level occurred. This high level of reduction prevailed during the remainder of the treatment period. Key Words Fanniafemoralis, Diptera, Muscidae, attractants, synthetic fly attractants, trimethylamine hydrochloride, n-butyric acid, fly control.

INTRODUCTION S y n a n t h r o p i c flies, s u c h as M u s c a domestica L., Fannia canicularis (L.), F a n n i a f e m o r a l i s ( S t e i n ) , a n d Muscina stabulans ( F a l l e n ) a r e o f t e n f o u n d in l a r g e n u m b e r s o n m a n y p o u l t r y r a n c h e s in s o u t h e r n C a l i f o r n i a . H e a v y b r e e d i n g o f these p e s t i f e r o u s flies in a c c u m u l a t e d c h i c k e n m a n u r e u n d e r c a g e r o w s o f l a y i n g h e n s c a n o c c u r f o r 9 - 1 0 m o n t h s o f t h e year. W h e n h i g h a d u l t p o p u l a t i o n s of the flies are e n c o u n t e r e d , c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s , s u c h as s p a c e or r e s i d u a l c h e m i c a l s p r a y s ( L o o m i s a n d D e a l , 1977) are g e n e r a l l y e m p l o y e d . In 349 0098-0331 84,0200-0349$03.50 0 9 1984 Plenum Pubiishing Corporation

350

MULLA ET AL.

some situations, use of sugar baits complement other control measures. Naturally produced lures have also been employed, as Rooney and McKeen (1974) have reported that aqueous solutions of molasses fermented with yeast were attractive to F. canicularis and other filth-breeding flies. Hwang et al. (1978), working with fermented molasses solutions, isolated and identified ethanol as the major attractive substance for a number of synanthropic flies. It was further shown that F. canicularis was highly attracted to ethanol, but M. dornestica and M. stabulans manifested a lesser attraction. In search of chemical attractants for Hippelates eye gnats, Hwang et al. (1975, 1976) studied an attractive fermented suspension of whole chicken egg from which they isolated and identified various compounds, and when combined in proper proportions, were highly attractive to the eye gnat Hippelates collusor (Townsend). Mulla et al. (1976) developed suitable attractive formulations from these compounds for eye gnats, which are highly pestiferous in some of the agricultural valleys of California. During the course of these studies, it was also noted that several other species of synanthropic flies were attracted. Subsequently, the positive response of M. domestica to formulations of these attractants was documented by Mulla et al. (1977). In southern California, some poultry ranches experience heavy populations of F. fernoralis from February to July. Since little information on attractants or baits for this species is available, the chemical attractants which induced positive responses in H. collusor (Mulla et al., 1976) and M. dornestica (Mulla et al., 1977) were studied against field populations of F. fernoralis. As a result of these studies, the authentic compounds needed for attracting this fly were identified and field-tested against heavy populations of this insect.

M E T H O D S AND M A T E R I A L S

All experiments were carried out on a commercial egg-producing poultry ranch in the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles County, California. During the period of testing (February to May), large numbers of F.fernoralis adults were observed actively hovering around the ranch and neighboring establishments. The ranch, with a capacity of 160,500 laying hens, consisted of 13 houses of different sizes. Wire cages were arranged above ground in double back-toback rows with each individual cage containing 2-3 birds. All houses had corrugated metal roofs and were open on the sides. This ranch is isolated from other poultry ranches in southern California by urbanization, the next closest ranch being more than 10 miles away. All adult flies present on the ranch were deemed to be breeding there, as no other major breeding sources were noted within miles. Experiments were designed to assess the attractancy of various chemicals

ATTRACTANTS OF F I L T H - B R E E D I N G FLY

351

against adult F. femoralis present in high numbers on the ranch. The composition of the synthetic fly attractant (SFA) tested contained the test chemicals in a proportion which had been found to attract other synanthropic flies (Mulla et al., 1976, 1977). A composition containing the attractant chemicals, trimethylamine hydrochloride (2.5%), indole (0.25%), a m m o n i u m sulfate (40%), and n-butyric acid (2.0%) were combined with a behaviorally inert anchovy meal carrier (55.25%). Trimethylamine hydrochloride and a m m o n i u m sulfate yield trimethylamine and a m m o n i a in the presence of water. This composition was used as a standard and compared with other preparations. In some experiments the a m o u n t of the carrier as well as the chemical attractants were varied depending on the composition to be tested. A number of methods were employed in evaluating the attractants. In the first series of experiments, plastic 3.8-liter jar traps were used (Hwang et al., 1978). Each jar was provided with two rows of six holes (3.5 cm diameter) which permitted fly entry and exit. A 120-ml cup (Sweetheart No. S-304) containing damp substrate (wet sand or chicken manure), essential for the elaboration of some of the attractants, was placed inside the jar. On the surface of the d a m p substrate was placed 5 g of an SFA formulation and 5 g of the toxicant, Improved Golden Malrin| a sugar bait containing 1% methomyl and 0.025% muscalure. Improved Golden Malrin killed the flies quickly before they could exit the jars. When liquid attractants were tested, 25 ml was placed in the cups (without d a m p substrate), which were then covered with cheesecloth to exclude flies, and 5 g of the toxicant bait was sprinkled around the base of the cup at the b o t t o m of the jar. The jars were set on the ground for 24 hr in the poultry ranch in matched pair sets, 1.2 m apart. One jar had the test composition while the other contained the standard formulation. After the exposure period, the flies were collected and the traps reset and reversed for another 24 hr to account for positional effects. In each test, four replicates were set, and the pairs had a distance of 2-3 m between any two sets. After exposure, the jars containing the dead flies were brought to the laboratory where the flies were counted and identified as to species. In further testing, a faster method of evaluation was employed, using a C R C rotary olfactometer developed for Hippelates eye gnat attractant research (Mulla et al., 1960). The C R C olfactometer is a circular table (1 ! 9 cm diam.) which revolves at 1/4 rpm to reduce positional effects. Pans 20 • 20 cm were used in place of the glass funnels normally used in tests against eye gnats. The pans were set at the outer edge of the table. Pans contained damp substrate (manure) covered by a d a m p paper towel, on top of which was placed a mixture of 5 g of solid attractant and 5 g of Improved Golden Malrin. When liquid attractant such as ethyl alcohol was tested, 25-ml samples were placed in the 120-ml cups and covered with cheesecloth. The cups were placed in the center of the pans over paper towels where 5 g of Improved Golden Malrin was sprinkled around the cups. The paper towels facilitated collection

352

MULLA ET AL.

and counting of dead flies. The pans were set in matched pairs with three sets randomly replicated on each table. The materials were exposed for 1-2 hr, allowing for a large number of flies (100-200) to be killed in at least one of the attractant formulations. Dead flies accumulated on the paper towels in each pan were brought into the laboratory for counting and identification. Another modification of the CRC olfactometer was used in a third series of tests. In place of the 400-cm 2 pans, 240-ml squat cups (Dixie Cup No. 2168) were used. This modification allowed for an increase from three matched-pair pan sets (six pans) to 10 matched-pair cup sets (20 cups per table). Each cup contained 120 g sand dampened with 25 ml water, on top of which a mixture of 0.5 g of the attractant a n d / o r 0.5 g Improved Golden Malrin was placed. The cups were placed at the edge of the revolving turntable in matched-pair replicated groups. Flies attracted to SFA were killed in the cups, and the cups containing dead flies were covered with lids and brought into laboratory for counting. A fourth series of tests was conducted using a rotary rod olfactometer (Mulla et al., 1973). This modification of the olfactometer allowed for an increase to 40 Dixie No. 2168 cups. The same evaluation procedures as in the above CRC olfactometer cup test were followed. Here the separate chemicals constituting SFA were evaluated. The attractant chemicals (0.5 g) and 0.5 g Improved Golden Malrin were placed in each cup on top of damp sand. After determination of the attractive chemicals, an experiment was conducted to demonstrate the efficacy of the SFA against F. femoralis by treating the entire ranch. Standard SFA formulation was used for the treatment because other muscoid flies besides F. femoralis were also present, and assessment of their response to the attractant would provide additional information. However, the results relating to these species are not presented, as the numbers captured were so low that definite conclusions could not be ascertained. The experiment on the efficacy of SFA on the ranch was conducted by setting 29 bait traps. The traps were made by placing a screen hood or cover over a 20-liter plastic bucket, containing the attractant (Figure 1). Each bucket contained a red clay brick in water with 1 cm of the brick above the water. The SFA composition (5 g) was placed on top of the damp brick. The screen hoods were moistened with water by an atomizer and then sprinkled with Improved Golden Malrin which adhered to the screen. Flies attracted to SFA in the bucket would land on the screen hoods, feed on Improved Golden Malrin, and die. The traps were recharged with attractant weekly, and toxicant or water 1-3 times per week, as needed. The traps were located throughout the poultry ranch, 4-5 traps per acre. To determine efficacy of SFA for a long period, the test continued for 11 weeks. Pretreatment counts were taken during the first 3 weeks. The treatment was begun on the 4th week and continued for the remaining period.

353

ATTRACTANTS OF FILTH-BREEDING FLY

FIG. 1. Screen covered trap employed in ranch-wide control of F. jernora/is.

The isolation of this ranch from other ranches prevented its comparison with any nearby control ranches. Effectiveness of treatment was determined by assessing population trends prior to and during the treatment period. Adults of F. femoralis were sampled with sticky fly tapes (Fly-Catcher, Aeroxon Products, Inc., New Rochelle, New York). Each week, 12 sticky fly tapes were set throughout the ranch for a 24 h period. F.fernoralis on the tapes were counted under a dissecting stereomicroscope in the laboratory. The data are presented as average numbers of flies per tape per 24 h. Statistical analyses were conducted on all data [transformed to log (n + 1)] to determine significant differences among means of treatments. Each test was subjected to either matched-pair t-test analysis (Schefler 1969) or analysis of variance followed by Duncan's multiple-range test, and significant differences among means of each individual test were determined at the 1, 5, or 10% probability levels (Little and Hills, 1962).

RESULTS

AND DISCUSSION

In the first series of tests using jar traps, potency of attractants on sand and manure was studied. SFA on damp sand was compared with damp chicken manure which had been observed to have some degree of attractancy to pestiferous flies. SFA on damp sand was significantly more attractive (at

354

MULLA ET AL.

TABLE 1. EVALUATION OF SYNTHETIC FLY ATTRACTANT COMPOSITION AGAINST MATCHED-PAIR TESTING METHOD ON A POULTRY RANCH a

Fannisfemoralis, USING

Mean No. flies/trap h Substrate Test 1A Damp sand Damp manure Test 1B Damp manure Damp sand Test 2A Damp manure Damp manure Test 2B Damp manure Damp manure Test 3A Damp sand None Test 3B None Damp sand

Attractant

Trap location

Synthetic fly attractant None

Male

Female

X Y

0 2

125"** 0

None Synthetic fly attractant

X Y

7 6

14 198'**

Synthetic fly attractant None

X Y

0 6**

544*** 6

None Synthetic fly attractant

X Y

1 0

2 876***

Synthetic fly attractant 25% EtOH solution

X Y

0 2

367*** 3

25% EtOH solution Synthetic fly attractant

X Y

1 0

2 320***

aUsing 3.8-liter plastic jar traps. Synthetic fly attractant contained: 2.5% trimethylamine hydrocbloride, 0.25% indole, 40% ammonium sulfate, 2% n-butyric acid, and 55.25% anchovy meal. Each treatment was provided with the toxicant bait Improved Golden Malrin. hMean number based on four matched-pair sets. Significant differences between means Of each pair in a column are determined: ** at 0.05 and *** at 0.01 probability level.

least 14• to F.femoralis t h a n d a m p m a n u r e a l o n e ( T a b l e 1, test 1A a n d 1B) a n d a t t r a c t e d f e m a l e s , a l m o s t exclusively. In t h e n e x t test, the a t t r a c t a n c y o f S F A o n d a m p m a n u r e was c o m p a r e d to t h e d a m p m a n u r e a l o n e . A g a i n , r e g a r d l e s s o f the p o s i t i o n o f t r a p s , s i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e F. femoralis w e r e a t t r a c t e d to S F A o n m a n u r e t h a n to m a n u r e a l o n e ( T a b l e 1, test 2 A a n d 2B). T h e r a t i o o f flies in S F A - m a n u r e a n d m a n u r e - a l o n e t r a p s was > 100: 1, a n d all flies a t t r a c t e d to S F A - m a n u r e w e r e f e m a l e s . Tests 1 a n d 2 t h u s i n d i c a t e t h a t s p o t t r e a t m e n t s o n d a m p m a n u r e w i t h a t t r a c t a n t - t o x i c a n t baits c o u l d p o s s i b l y r e d u c e n u m b e r s o f F. femoralis. I n t h e t h i r d test o f this series, t h e S F A o n d a m p s a n d was c o m p a r e d w i t h 2 5 % e t h y l a l c o h o l , a g o o d a t t r a c t a n t for F. canicularis ( H w a n g et al., 1978). S i g n i f i c a n t l y m o r e F.femoralis w e r e a t t r a c t e d to S F A o n d a m p s a n d t h a n to e t h y l a l c o h o l ( T a b l e 1, test 3 A a n d 3B). All flies a t t r a c t e d w e r e f e m a l e s . R e s u l t s i n d i c a t e d e t h y l a l c o h o l to be a p o o r a t t r a c t a n t f o r F.femoralis. D a m p

A T T R A C T A N T S OF F I L T H - B R E E D I N G FLY

355

sand alone provides no stimulus as an attractant to F. femoralis (personal observation). Since ethyl alcohol proved to be unattractive in the above test, it was decided to test a combination of the S F A - m a n u r e against an ethyl alcoholmanure combination. Damp manure was placed in 400-cm 2pans and covered with a paper towel. On the top of the towels were placed 120-ml cups, each containing 25 ml of ethyl alcohol. The pans were arranged on the CRC olfactometer. This test clearly established that S F A - m a n u r e combination was significantly more attractive (attracting 3135 flies) than the ethyl alcoholmanure combination (attracting 1469 flies). About 99% of the flies attracted were females. This test showed that the combination of manure-ethyl alcohol may have some enhanced attractancy, as neither the manure nor ethyl alcohol alone shown any high degree of attractancy to F.fernoralis in the jar trap tests (see Table 1). When both Fannia canicularis and F. fernoralis are present, a combination of ethyl alcohol and SFA could be used to lure both species to traps, as ethyl alcohol is an attractant for the former species (Hwang et al., 1978) and not the latter species. It should be pointed out that in all tests conducted, Improved Golden Malrin was used for toxicant effects. One of the components of Improved Golden Malrin is muscalure, a house fly attractant which elicits contact response (Carlson et al., 1971). We decided to test the role of this attractant against F. femoralis. Tests 2A and 2B of Table 1 indicate that Improved Golden Malrin on damp manure had little or no attractancy to F.fernoralis. In another test, when SFA with Improved Golden Malrin and Improved Golden Malrin alone were compared in squat cups, significantly more F. femoralis (282) were attracted to SFA cups than to cups with Improved Golden Malrin alone (44 flies). These tests indicated that Improved Golden Malrin has a much lower attractancy than SFA to F. femoralis. After establishing attractancy of SFA to F. femoralis, the attractancy of each constituent or combination of constituents was investigated and compared to the entire SFA mixture. In test A (Table 2), attractancy of individual components as well as the anchovy meal carrier was evaluated. Anchovy meal showed a low level of attractancy which was increased significantly by the addition of either trimethylamine hyrochloride (2.5%) or n-butyric acid (2%). On the other hand, the attractancy was not significantly increased by incorporating indole (0.25%) or ammonium sulfate (40%) into the anchovy meal. The attractancy of each individual component (with anchovy meal) was significantly lower than that of SFA. The next test (Table 2, test B) in this series involved addition of two ingredients to the carrier. Combinations of T M A ' HCl-indole, TMA" HCIammonium sulfate, or indole-n-butyric acid as pairs yielded similar levels of attractancy, which in each case was significantly lower than that of the complete mixture (SFA). I n d o l e - a m m o n i u m sulfate or ammonium sulfate-n-

356

MULLA ET AL.

TABLE 2. EVALUATIONOF VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF SYNTHETIC FLY ATTRACTANT AGAINST F. femoralis, ON A POULTRY RANCH a Composition by constituents (%) Test A

Anchovy meal 100 97.5 99.75 60 98 55.25

TMA. HCI

lndole

Ammonium sulfate

n-Butyric acid

Mean No. flies/cup h

2 2

22 c 70 b 45 bc 22 c 69 b 204 a

2.5 0.25 40 2.5

0.25

97.25 57.5 95.5 59.75 97.75 58.0 55.25

2.5 2.5 2.5

0.25

2.5

0.25

57.25 95.25 55.5 57.75 55.25

2.5 2.5 2.5

0.25 0.25

2 2 2

I01 b I13 b 167 a 53 c 121 b 70 c 215 a

2 2 2 2

48 b 94 a 85 a 51 b 83 a

40 2 0.25 0.25

2.5

40

0.25 0.25

40 40 40 40 40 40 40

~Using rotary rod olfactometer and open cup method of evaluation. ~Mean based upon 5 replicates for each test. Each test analyzed independently of each other. Means followed by same letters are not significantly different from each other at 0.05 level. b u t y r i c a c i d s h o w e d l o w e s t level o f a t t r a c t a n c y . T h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f t r i m e t h y l a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e - n - b u t y r i c acid s h o w e d t h e h i g h e s t a t t r a c t a n c y o f all pairs o f c o m p o u n d s t e s t e d a n d was n o t s i g n i f i c a n t l y d i f f e r e n t f r o m S F A . In t h e t h i r d test ( T a b l e 2, test C) of this series, c o m p o s i t i o n s l a c k i n g o n l y o n e o f t h e c o m p o n e n t s ( c o m b i n a t i o n s of three) w e r e e v a l u a t e d a n d c o m p a r e d w i t h S F A . D e l e t i o n o f n - b u t y r i c acid f r o m S F A r e s u l t e d in s i g n i f i c a n t r e d u c t i o n of a t t r a c t a n c y . L i k e w i s e , d e l e t i o n of t r i m e t h y l a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e f r o m S F A r e s u l t e d in s i g n i f i c a n t r e d u c t i o n o f a t t r a c t a n c y . F r o m t h e s e studies, it is e v i d e n t t h a t t r i m e t h y l a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e a n d n - b u t y r i c acid are t h e m a i n a t t r a c t a n t s in S F A for F. femoralis. As t r i m e t h y l a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e a n d n - b u t y r i c acid w e r e p r o v e n to be t h e p r i n c i p a l a t t r a c t a n t s f o r F. femoralis in S F A , v a r y i n g c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of e a c h o f t h e s e c o m p o n e n t s w e r e t e s t e d in the w h o l e c o m p o s i t i o n . T h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f t r i m e t h y l a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e was v a r i e d f r o m 0 to 5%. N o s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e a m o n g the 1 - 5 % c o n c e n t r a t i o n s was n o t e d ( T a b l e 3, test

ATTRACTANTSOF FILTH-BREEDINGFLY

357

TABLE 3. EFFECTOF VARIOUSCONCENTRATIONSOF TRIMETHYLAM1NE HYDROCHLORIDE AND n-BuTYRIC ACID IN SFA FORMULATION IN LURINO f. femoralis a

Component Test A Trimethylamine hydrochloride'

Anchovy meal carrier Improved Golden Malrin Test B n-Butyric acid J

Anchovy meal carrier Improved Golden Malrin

Concentration in formulation (%)

Mean No. flies/cup ~'

0.0 1.0 2.0 2.5 5.0 100 0.5

24 b 61 a 77 a 81 a 88 a 4c 2c

0.0 0.25 0.5 1,0 2.0 100 0.5

13 b 55 a 60 a 67 a 46 a 5c 3c

"Tested using rotary rod olfactometer with cups containing damp sand as substrate. ~Mean based upon 5 replicates. Tests analyzed independently of each other. Means followed by same letter in each test not significantly different from each other at 0.05 level. 'Composition also contained 0.25% indole, 40% ammonium sulfate, 2% n-butyric acid, and 54.25-59.25% anchovy meal. aComposition also contained 0.25% indole, 40% ammonium sulfate, 2.5% trimethylamine hydrochloride, and 55.25-57.25% anchovy meal. A). A n c h o v y meal and I m p r o v e d G o l d e n M a l r i n by themselves (as indicated in eariier tests) were unattractive. T h e c o m p o s i t i o n lacking t r i m e t h y l a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e a t t r a c t e d significantly l o w e r n u m b e r s of flies than any of the oth er c o m p o s i t i o n s c o n t a i n i n g this c o m p o u n d . Various c o n c e n t r a t i o n s of n-butyric acid f r o m 0.25 to 2.0% in the S F A c o m p o s i t i o n s lured v a r i a b l e but insignificantly different, n u m b e r s of flies ( T a b l e 3, test B). A n c h o v y meal and I m p r o v e d G o l d e n M a l r i n were ag ai n n o t a t t r a c t i v e to the flies. T h e c o m p o s i t i o n lacking n - b u t y r i c acid at t r act ed significantly lower n u m b e r s of flies as c o m p a r e d to c o m p o s i t i o n s with this acid. A t t r a c t a n t c o m p o s i t i o n s for F. femoralis can be p r e p a r e d c o n t a i n i n g 1-5% t r i m e t h y l a m i n e h y d r o c h l o r i d e and 0.25-2.0% n-butyric acid, w i t h o u t i n c r e a s i n g or decreasing initial a t t r a c t a n c y . N o studies were c o n d u c t e d on l ong ev i t y of a c t i o n with the v a r i o u s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s e x a m i n e d . As n - b u t y r i c acid has an u n p l e a s a n t odor, its inclusion in a t t r a c t a n t f o r m u l a t i o n s could be at the lower c o n c e n t r a t i o n s when used in areas close to h u m a n habitation. A f t e r establishing a t t r a c t a n c y of S F A to F. femoralis, a large-scale trial

M U L L A E T AL.

358

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30x.~

'~ 2, 0o

i

....

~

~.x

-~

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so

~. 4 0 ao 9 Q

9,o22~

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TEST

FIG. 2. Population trends of F. femoralis as measured by sticky tapes prior to and during treatment with synthetic fly attractant-toxicant bait. was then initiated. For 3 weeks prior to initiation of the area-wide control test, a high number of F. femoralis were captured on sticky tapes (Figure 2). Although the actual numbers fluctuated the first 3 weeks, no significant differences were indicated by statistical comparisons. One week after initiation of treatment (week 4 of test), the fly population activity was still relatively high and was not statistically different from the three pretreatment counting dates. Due to the high density of flies and emergence of new adults, it was not expected that the treatment would provide immediate control of flies. However, within two weeks after initiation of the treatment (week 5 of test), and through the next 6 weeks of this study, significantly fewer F. femoralis were collected. There was a large drop in numbers at week 5 of the test and a weekly decline thereafter. The isolated location of the ranch probably precluded incursion of flies from outside, and thus the locally produced F. femoralis population declined rapidly. Table 1 indicates that SFA exclusively attracted females. As females were killed, their ability to repopulate the ranch ceased as evidenced by the results obtained in the latter part of the study. A glance at the air temperatures indicates little or no rise in m a x i m u m s during the day and little or no drop in minimum temperatures at night. Slight

ATTRACTANTS OF FILTIt-BREEDING FLY

359

increases in the daytime temperatures occured during the last two weeks of the test. The 1 lth and final week of the test had a marked increase in daytime temperature. The sharp decline in populations soon after initiation of treatment could not be attributed to warming of the weather, as this did not occur during the test. F.Jemoralis has been observed to thrive under the range of temperatures noted here. O p t i m u m mean developmental temperatures for this species are 21-27~ while 32~ and above or 10~ and below induce heavy mortality in these flies (Deal, 1967). No such high or low temperatures were experienced during this test. From results obtained, it appears that stations baited with synthetic fly attractant had a marked and significant role in reducing adult F. Jemoralis populations on this poultry ranch. The use of these specific attractants in combination with toxicants provides a safe and practical measure for the control of F. femoralis on poultry ranches. An important advantage of this method would be little or no risk to beneficial fauna in poultry manure. This type o f a t t r a c t a n t - t o x i c a n t combination could be employed in traps (as in this test) or applied as spot treatments on damp manure a n d / o r damp ground, which are always present on poultry ranches yielding high fly densities. REFERENCES

CARLSON,D.A., MAYER,M.S., SILIfACEK,D.L., JAMES,J.D., BEROZA, M., and BIERL, B.A. 1971. . Sex attractant pheromone of the house fly: Isolation, identification and synthesis. Science 174:76-78. DEAL, A.S. 1967. The effect of temperature and moisture on the development of Fannia eanicularis (L.) and Fanniafernoralis (Stein) (Diptera: Muscidae). Unpublished P h D thesis, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. HWANG, Y.-S., MULL& M.S., and AXELROD, H. 1975. Attractants for synanthropic flies: Evaluation of chemical attractants and co-attractants against the eye gnat Hippelates collulsor (Diptera: Chloropidae). Environ. Entomol. 4:769-773. HWANG, Y.-S., MULLA, M.S., and AXELROD, H. 1976. Attractants for synanthropic flies. Identification of a t t r a c t a n t s and co-attractants for Hippelates eye gnats (Diptera: Chloropidae). J. Agr. Food Chem. 24:164-169. HWANG, Y.-S., MULLA, M.S., and AXELROD, H. 1978. Attractants for synanthropic flies. Ethanol as attractant for Fannia canicularis and other pest flies in poultry ranches. J. Chem. EeoL 4:463-470. L~TTLE, T.M., and HILLS, F.J. 1962. Experimental methods for extension workers. Univ. Calif. Agric. Ext. Service. 88 pp. LOOM1S, E.C., and DEAL, A.S. 1977. Control of domestic flies. Univ. of Calif. Coop. Ext. Service Leaflet 2504, 4 pp. MULLA, M.S., DORNER, R.W., GEORGHIOU, G.P., and GARBER, M.J. 1960. Olfactometer and procedure for testing baits and chemical attractants against Hippelates eye gnats. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 53:529-537. MVLLA, M.S., HWANG, Y.-S., and AXELROD, H. 1973. Attractants for synanthropic flies: 3. Evaluation, development, and formulation of attractive baits against Hippelates collusor. ,I. Econ. Entomol. 66:1089-1094.

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MULLA, M.S., HWANG, Y.-S., and AXELROD, H. 1976. Chemical attractants and their formulations against the eye gnat Hippelates collusor. Bull. Soc. Vector Ecol. 3:47-51. MFLLA, M.S., HWANG, Y.-S., and AXELROD, H. 1977. Attractants for synanthropic flies: Chemical attractants for domestic flies. Y. Econ. EntomoL 70:644-648. ROONEY,W.F., and MCKEEN,W.D. 1974. Molasses looks good for fly control. Univ. Calif. Agric. Ext. Service. 2 pp. SCHEFLER, W.C. 1969. Statistics for the Biological Sciences. Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts, 231 pp.

Field evaluation of chemical attractants against the flyFannia femoralis (Diptera: Muscidae).

Four chemical compounds previously shown to be attractants toHippelates eye gnats and houseflies were evaluated againstFannia femoralis (Stein). Two o...
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