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PEST CONTROL
pPEST CONTROL
FIGHT against FLIES in a compost farm
Analysis of a concrete case of application of the Integrated Pest management guidelines and the benefits resulting from the use of this methodology
Michele Ruzza
The report of discomfort due to the excessive presence of flies reached the compost company in question during the spring of 2021, by residents in homes adjacent to the industrial structure. The first step was to visit the company in order to assess what its fly control system was and what actions were being implemented. From the analysis of the data for the years 2019 and 2020 it was possible to detect how, in order to limit the presence of these insects, the company had entrusted the service to a pest control company that performed adulticide treatments for their containment. The treatments were carried out fortnightly in spring and autumn and weekly in the summer (from June to September) with scheduled interventions, regardless of any adverse weather conditions in the hours following the treatment. From the analysis it emerged that no other control methodologies had been contemplated for flies, both in the internal and in the external area.
In agreement with the plant manager, it was decided to study a new control methodology, developed on the IPM and on the basis of the compost production process by analyzing the various production processes. The company’s study therefore led to the evaluation of some areas as sensitive such as: ■ Zone A: consisting of 2 sheds in which the waste was delivered and left to maturate for at least 4 weeks with the movement of the mass every 7 days. The shed, next to the mass of waste, highlighted an area with the presence of sewage as well as a lane suitable for the passage of processing machinery and two main openings, one for loading and the second for unloading, with weekly opening. ■ Zone B: consisting of 4 sheds with a single entrance (used for both loading and unloading) with the resting function of the mass taken from the sheds in zone A. In these sheds the rest timing of the mass varied from a minimum of four weeks to a few months. ■ Zone C: it was decided to consider the external area of the company as a potentially sensitive area and therefore to adopt a control program also in this area.
Once the various sensitive areas had been identified, the first operational step was to evaluate which products and equipment could be the most performing for the service and on the basis of those then go to study the methods of application of the same. As regards the larvicidal treatments, it was considered to perform periodic treatments with two products, the first based on S-Methoprene and the other based on Diflubenzuron, in order to avoid possible resistance phenomena. The controls of the adults to be developed with two methods were then evaluated. The first control method was the use of chromotropic panels activated with brushing with a product based on Clothianidin and Trichosene (Pesguard® CT 2.6) and with mass traps activated with protein components. The second method was to carry out spatial adulticide treatments with a product based on Prallethrin and Cypermethrin (Cymina Super) which guaranteed good killing action and prolonged residuality, but with only the H410 risk phrase. Therefore, having established the products to be used, the operational plan for the 2021 season, was built:
■ Larvicidal treatments: carried out every two weeks in the sheds in
Zone A, monthly in the sheds in
Zone B. Treatments start on April 19th and ends on September 13th, except for temperatures favorable to the recrudescence of the problem; ■ “Physical” adulticidal treatments: the positioning of 20 panels per shed as regards Zone A and 5 panels as regards Zone B was evaluated, for a total of 60 panels (10 x 30 cm) with a fortnightly change.
In the external area, on the other hand, two defensive lines were evaluated with mass capture traps, placing 2 for each entrance to the sheds (for a total of 8 traps) and 10 traps in the perimeter area, all with monthly change. ■ Spatial adulticide treatments: the evaluation began with treatments starting from June 3 every twenty days to end on September 16, notwithstanding the continuous monitoring of the weather conditions and the presence of infestation in order to vary the frequency. It was also considered to carry out the interventions at the first light of dawn and not at a set time.
From a control of the presence of flies it was shown that during the entire intervention period the mass traps near the
doors had an average quantity of flies approximately double compared to the traps present in the external perimeter, and during adulticide treatments there was not a high amount of flies in the walls of the buildings. This fact was also confirmed in the interviews carried out with staff, who identified a decrease in the perception of the presence of flies in the external areas of the compost company. More importantly, no protests were received from residents of neighboring housing structures. It can therefore be identified how, for the control of flies, the application of a coordinated control/protocol between larvicidal interventions, physical interventions and adulticidal interventions can guarantee an effective decrease in the pressure of the pest, from an IPM perspective. Of course, the principles of the IPM also apply to the hygienic-sanitary protection of the environment, also underlining the need to activate a close collaboration between the Management and the disinfestation function. ■
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BB IO-EThOLOGICAL S h EET
MUSCA DOMESTICA (HOUSEFLY)
SYSTEMATIC CLASSIFICATION
Class: Insecta Order: Diptera Suborder: Brachycera Family: Muscidae
DIMENSIONS
Larva: 12 mm Pupa: 6 mm Adult: 5 - 9 mm
FEATURES AND DIFFUSION
The adult has burgundy eyes, the thorax is gray with 4 black stripes, and the abdomen has 2 large yellowish spots on the sides. The mouthparts consist of a retractable proboscis. The larva is whitish with a conical shape. This species is cosmopolitan and widespread everywhere.
HABITAT
Larva: within excrements, manure, waste and fermenting plant material, provided they are sufficiently hot and humid. Adult: in the air, near dunghill, landfills, agro-food industries, etc.: ubiquitous and synanthropic. It generally remains at the outbreak of infestation, with displacements of 0.5 - 5 Km.
EATING HABITS
Larva: bacteria and yeasts present within the substrates in which they live. Adult: food substances of all kinds, animal serosities, excrements, etc. The characteristic way of feeding (regurgitation emitted to dissolve solid foods) determines its danger.
LIFE CYCLE
Egg > larva > pupa > adult
Duration: 6 - 8 days (in optimal conditions) N° generations/year: 12 – 15 N° egg/female: 600 - 900, in groups of 100 - 200 elements.The female is monogamous, the male is not Wintering: as an adult in sheltered places (houses, stables); sometimes as larvae in suitable microclimates (dunghill and landfills).
THERMAL LIMITS FOR DEVELOPMENT
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Minimum temperature: 10°C (egg and larvae) 12°C (stopping adult activities) 0° C for long periods (adult mortality) Optimal temperature: 35° - 38°C 30°C (adults) Maximum temperature: 50°C (larvae)
DAMAGES
Decrease in production on farms due to the discomfort of animals. Health damage: potential vector of numerous pathologies. Economic and image damage in tourist areas. Damage in the agro-food industries.
DEFENCE
Prevention
Frequent cleaning: elimination of food residues and organic waste.
Correct management of food and
waste: hermetic sealing of both in suitable containers and possibly in separate environments.
Use of exclusionary practices:
installation of fine mesh windows and double doors with return.
Correct management of manure in
farms: frequent removal in fertilizers with a concrete base and channels for the collection of sewage; covering the dunghill with plastic sheets to increase the fermentation temperature.
Disinfestation
adults: biological struggle with sterile males; use of traps, baits and sticky strips; treatments with killing and residual products larvae: biological fight with parasitoids; larvicidal treatments in outbreaks of infestation with low environmental impact products
Treatment calendar
5 - 10 treatments to be started at the first appearance of the infestation. It is advisable to carry out the first interventions in spring, to contain subsequent infestations. In summer, when there is a strong presence of flies, approach the treatments at intervals of 10 - 20 days, depending on the persistence of the product in the environment in question.
Products Adulticides:
■ Natural pyrethrum extract ■ Pyrethroid ■ Low toxicity phosphoric esters
Larvicides:
■ Low toxicity phosphoric esters ■ Anti Chitinizers ■ Juvenoids
Equipment ■ Sprayers
Technique
Wall spraying should be done by insisting in particular on the areas around the entrances (doors and windows), as well as on those most frequented by flies. The larvicidal treatments must affect the area of the fertilizer where there is no supply of fresh manure. Also intervene along the perimeter of the relaying areas, where there is no continuous trampling action.