Attractiveness and Specificity of Different Polyethylene Blue Screens on Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The haematophagous fly Stomoxys calcitrans is considered as a major pest of livestock worldwide. Insecticides have been extensively used to control this pest but resistance to these chemical compounds is now reported in many countries. Therefore, a more sustainable and efficient control is needed. New blue polyethylene sticky screens have been proved to be very attractant for stable flies. They are produced at a lower price than all blue fabric screens or traps. More than 70% of flies are captured on the lower half (30 to 60 cm above ground) of the screens. In our conditions, very few non-target fauna was captured as very few pollinators were caught by these screens. These results are highlighting the interest of these blue polyethylene screens to control stable flies in cattle farms, in comparison with more expensive blue fabrics. ABSTRACT: Stomoxys calcitrans is considered as a major pest of livestock worldwide. Insecticides have been extensively used to control this pest but resistance to these chemical compounds is now reported in many countries. Therefore, a more sustainable and efficient control is needed. Seven different types of blue screens, with reflectances around 460 nm, were tested during summer 2016 in southwestern France to evaluate their attractiveness and their specificity for stable flies. Height of the screen and orientation (east or west) of a blue screen were also considered. High levels of S. calcitrans captures were recorded during this study (from 141 to 7301 individuals per blue screen and per day) whereas the numbers of tabanids and pollinator insects remained extremely low (less than 10 individuals per screen and per day). No significant difference in attractiveness has been shown between the different types of blue screens. The lower half of the blue screens caught significantly more stable flies (70%) than the higher half (30%). The “east” side of the screen attracted 60% of stable flies but this was not significantly different from the west side. These results are highlighting the interest in these blue polyethylene screens for controlling stable flies in cattle farms, in comparison with more expensive blue fabrics.