Behavioral Inhibition of the House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) When Exposed to Commercial Equine Fly Repellents.
Abstract: House flies can have negative consequences on the welfare of horses and other equids. Fly repellents in the form of on-animal sprays, wipes, or spot-ons are the most commonly used fly control method for horses. Many products are available, but repellent efficacy and duration of effectiveness may influence repellent choice by horse owners. A better understanding of the efficacy of common fly repellent products will help guide repellent selection to reduce fly pressure on horses. To evaluate commercially available repellents, house fly behavioral inhibition after application of three products marketed as natural (Ecovet, Equiderma, and Outsmart) and four with synthetic pyrethroids as active ingredients (Bronco, Endure, UltraShield, and Optiforce) was compared at 100, 50, and 25% concentration and at 15, 30, 60, 240, 1,440, and 2,880 min. Time and product were significant at all tested concentrations. The natural products performed as well as or better than the synthetic products at all dilutions and times. Ecovet in particular retained over 75% inhibition of flies for >1 d at the 100 and 50% concentrations. Differences were seen among products with pyrethroids, suggesting that formulation differences significantly affect efficacy. Cost and application suggestions are discussed, and these results will aid horse owners in selecting fly repellents to meet their individual needs.
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Publication Date: 2019-09-29 PubMed ID: 31560398DOI: 10.1093/jee/toz243Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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The research article highlights the effectiveness of various commercial equine fly repellents, including natural and synthetic ones, on house flies that negatively impact the wellbeing of horses. The study aims to assist horse owners in making a more informed decision when selecting fly repellents.
Study Objective and Methodology
- The main objective of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of commercially available fly repellents on house flies that are harmful to horses and other equids.
- Several repellent products were evaluated, categorized into three marketed as natural (Ecovet, Equiderma, and Outsmart), and four others that contain synthetic pyrethroids as active ingredients (Bronco, Endure, UltraShield, and Optiforce).
- The efficacy of these repellents was tested at varying concentrations (100%, 50%, and 25%) and at different points in time (15, 30, 60, 240, 1,440, and 2,880 minutes).
Research Findings
- The research found that the time interval and the specific repellent product used were significant factors in all tested concentrations.
- Natural products were found to perform as effectively, or even outperform, synthetic products across all dilutions and timeframes.
- Among the natural products, Ecovet showed particularly promising results, maintaining over 75% inhibition of flies for more than a day at 100% and 50% concentrations.
- However, the effectiveness varied among the synthetic pyrethroid products which suggested that the formulation differences significantly influenced their efficacy.
Conclusion and Recommendations
- The varied outcome among tested repellents underscores the significance of formulation differences which could significantly affect their efficacy.
- Recommendations for horse owners on product selection also take into account factors such as cost and application advice which the study discusses.
- The results of this research are intended to guide horse owners in choosing the most suitable and effective fly repellents for specific individual needs.
Cite This Article
APA
Tuorinsky EV, Machtinger ET.
(2019).
Behavioral Inhibition of the House Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) When Exposed to Commercial Equine Fly Repellents.
J Econ Entomol, 113(1), 518-526.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toz243 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA.
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, 4 Chemical Ecology Laboratory, University Park, PA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses
- Houseflies
- Insect Repellents
- Insecticides
- Muscidae
- Pyrethrins
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