Efficacy of chemical repellents against Otobius megnini (Acari: Argasidae) and three species of ixodid ticks.

Otobius megnini (Dugès), often referred to as the ear tick or spinose ear tick, is a one-host tick native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. Infestations of this species can cause severe irritation and may affect breeding behavior in the host. Although chemical repellents are commonly used as an alternative approach to conventional arthropod vector control, information on repellency against O. megnini is lacking. This study compared repellency of ammonia, BioUD(®), 98.25% DEET, garlic pepper tea, permanone, and pyrethrin with piperonyl butoxide, against larvae stages of O. megnini, Amblyomma americanum (L.), Dermacentor variabilis (Say), and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille). To test for repellency, tick movement was recorded at 30 s intervals for five min after introduction to a partially treated piece of filter paper. Results showed larvae of O. megnini exhibited less aversion to the chemicals tested when compared to the other tick species.

Development of black soldier fly (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae fed dairy manure.

Black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens L., are a common colonizer of animal wastes. However, all published development data for this species are from studies using artificial diets. This study represents the first examining black soldier fly development on animal wastes. Additionally, this study examined the ability of black soldier fly larvae to reduce dry matter and associated nutrients in manure. Black soldier fly larvae were fed four rates of dairy manure to determine their effects on larval and adult life history traits. Feed rate affected larval and adult development. Those fed less ration daily weighed less than those fed a greater ration. Additionally, larvae provided the least amount of dairy manure took longer to develop to the prepupal stage; however, they needed less time to reach the adult stage. Adults resulting from larvae provided 27 g dairy manure/d lived 3-4 d less than those fed 70 g dairy manure. Percentage survivorship to the prepupal or adult stages did not differ across treatments. Larvae fed 27 g dairy manure daily reduced manure dry matter mass by 58%, whereas those fed 70 g daily reduced dry matter 33%. Black soldier fly larvae were able to reduce available P by 61-70% and N by 30-50% across treatments. Based on results from this study, the black soldier fly could be used to reduce wastes and associated nutrients in confined bovine facilities.