PUSH-PULL FLY MANAGEMENT FOR DEEP BEDDED SWINE BARNS

This is a research project is designed to employ a stimulo-deterrent diversionary strategy (SDDS) or Push-pull strategy (PPS) to manage arthropod pests. PPS has been successfully used in a variety of integrated cropping systems, including onions and cotton. The concept relies on the manipulation of the pest by applying pressures to induce behavioral changes that result in less damage to the crop. PPS uses a variety of compounds including repellents, oviposition deterrents, and antifeedants to push the pest away from the crop. PPS couples these agents with others that pull the pests toward an unsuitable crop. The latter may be pheromones, attractants, and feeding stimulants often in the form of a trap crop. Application of PPS may have utility in the management of pests in animal agriculture. We propose the use of plant derived insect repellents, geraniol and 2-undecanone, and an entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana for the control of house flies and stable flies in alternative swine production systems. Europe has taken the lead in developing alternative swine production systems, including growing pigs on deep-bedded open floors allowing the pigs to move freely about the building. As the pigs become accustomed to the housing, separate resting and dunging areas become established. These dunging areas are breeding sites for filth flies and in turn become a nuisance and spread pathogens on or between farms. The goal of this project is to document and demonstrate push-pull pest management strategies to minimize the severity of filth fly infestation in a dry-bedding waste management system.