Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/07
Outputs
Field tests in commercial turkey finishing houses indicated that the nematodes did not survive beyond one week in the turkey litter due to the extremely dry conditions in the houses. In addition, our other studies indicated that only small numbers of filth fly larvae were present in the facilities and these were only collected beneath waterers. Evaluation of the impact of in-house composting on adult and larval lesser mealworms showed that no detrimental effects were observed by composting litter. We concluded that larval and adult beetles left the wind-rows immediately after approximately 2,500 gallons of water was added to the litter, composting into windrows was completed and the temperatures started to increase. Within the first 24 hours adult and larval lesser mealworms had migrated to the walls and moved upward into the facility insulation. In tests, where the insecticide cyfluthrin was added to the water and dispersed immediately prior to composting into the
windrows, all adult and larval beetles were killed. No beetles were observed leaving the wind-rows and climbing the walls as was observed in houses where wind-rows received water only
Impacts
In-house composting offers many potential advantages to handling broiler house litter. Among the advantages would be reduction from tonnage applied to pasture area, thus, preventing run-off of phosphorus and other chemicals in the litter. Even though it appears in the preliminary data that no beetle control occurred, using the equipment to thoroughly mix insecticides and perhaps some biological agents like fungus pathogens into the litter as the wind-rows are being turned could be advantageous. Entomopathogenic nematodes offer a method of lesser mealworm management in poultry facilities.
Publications
- Szalanski, A.L., T.W. Palmer, T. McKay, and C.D. Steelman. 2004. Infectivity of Steinernema spp. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) to adult litter beetles, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the laboratory. Biocontrol Science and Technology 14: 81-84.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Evaluation of the impact of in-house composting on adult and larval lesser mealworms showed that no detrimental effects were observed on adult and larval lesser mealworms by the composting of the litter. We concluded that the larval and adult beetles left the wind-rows immediately after approximately 2,500 gallons of water was added to the litter, composting into windrows was completed and the temperatures started to increase. Within the first 24 hours the adult and larval lesser mealworms had migrated to the walls and moved upward into the facility insulation. In tests where the insecticide cyfluthrin was added to the water and dispersed immediately prior to composting into the windrows, it appeared that all adult and larval beetles were killed. No beetles were observed leaving the wind-rows and climbing the walls, as was observed in houses where wind-rows received water only.
Impacts
Adding insecticide to water applied to broiler-house wood-shaving litter immediately prior to wind-rowing the litter offers a highly successful method to manage adult and larval lesser mealworms.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/30/04
Outputs
Cooperative studies continued to determine the impact of in-house composting on adult and larval lesser mealworms. The data indicated that no detrimental effects were caused to adult and larval lesser mealworms by the composting of the litter. Temperatures ranged from 85-95F immediately after the wind-rows were formed to 101 to 146F three days later after the wind-rows had been "turned" by the row building machine. It appeared that the larval and adult beetles left the wind-rows immediately after temperatures started to increase and that within the first 24 hours they had migrated to the wall and moved upward into the facility insulation. Of the five most promising entomopathogenic nematode strains, LC 50 values ranged from 1.5 to 77.0 nematodes per host in the filter paper assays. Assays in poultry litter material revealed LC50 values to be 5.8 and 14.6 nematodes per host for the Mexican S. carpoeapsae strain and Pye S. feltiae strain. Field tests in commercial
turkey finishing houses indicated that the nematodes did not survive beyond one week in the turkey litter due to the extremely dry conditions in the houses. In addition, our other studies indicated that only small numbers of filth fly larvae were present in the facilities and these were only collected beneath the waterers.
Impacts
In-house composting offers many potential advantages to handling broiler house litter. Even though it appears in the preliminary data that no beetle control occurred, using the equipment to thoroughly mix insecticides and perhaps some biological agents like fungus pathogens into the litter as the wind-rows are being turned could be advantageous.
Publications
- Szalanski, A.L., T.W. Palmer, T. McKay, and C.D. Steelman. 2004. Infectivity of Steinernema spp. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) to adult litter beetles, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the laboratory. Biocontrol Science and Technology 14: 81-84.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
A cooperative study with a commercial company was initiated in 2003 to determine the impact of in-house composting on adult and larval lesser mealworms. In commercial broiler houses the composting machine was used to construct approximately 60-90 cm wind-rows of litter on each side and down the center of each house within six hours after the broiler flock was removed. Temperature and moisture was determined at 3 sites along each wind-row and at each site, litter samples were taken to determine moisture, coliform bacteria and lesser mealworms. The data indicated that no detrimental effects were caused to adult and larval lesser mealworms by the composting of the litter. Rather it appeared that more beetles were found in the wind-row where higher temperatures were recorded. Temperatures ranged from 85-95Fimmediately after the wind-rows were formed to 101 to 146F three days later after the wind-rows had been "turned" by the row building machine. Three species of
Steinernema, S. carpocapsae, S. feltiae, and S. scapterisci consisting of 12 different strains, were tested for their infectivity towards adults of the litter beetle Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer). Of the five most promising nematode strains, LC 50 values ranged from 1.5 to 77.0 nematodes per host in the filter paper assays. Assays in poultry litter material revealed LC50 values to be 5.8 and 14.6 nematodes perhost for the Mexican S. carpoeapsae strain and Pye S. feltiae strain.
Impacts
In-house composting offers many potential advantages to handling broiler house litter. Among the advantages would be reduction from tonnage applied to pasture area, thus, preventing run-off of phosphorus and other chemicals in the litter. Even though it appears in the preliminary data that no beetle control occurred, using the equipment to thoroughly mix insecticides and perhaps some biological agents like fungus pathogens into the litter as the wind-rows are being turned could be advantageous. Entomopathogenic nematodes offer a method of lesser mealworm management in poultry facilities.
Publications
- Szalanski, A.L., T.W. Palmer, T. McKay, and C.D. Steelman. 2004. Infectivity of Steinernema spp. (Nematoda: Steinernematidae) to adult litter beetles, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the laboratory. Biocontrol Science and Technology 14: 81-84.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
The litter beetle, Alphitobius diaperinus, is the most important insect pest of poultry, both as a nuisance and as a vector of disease. Before this research, only one strain of Steinernema carpocapsae ALL and S. glaseri had been tested against adult litter beetles. The virulence of the following three species and 11 strains of Steinernema towards adult litter beetle were tested: S. carpocapsae (UK, Kapow, Mexican, and Agristos strains, S. feltiae (Pye, SN, SD1, SD7, SD34W, and Umea), and S. scapterisci. Significant difference in virulence was detected among nematode species and strains. Nematode-induced mortality was not significantly greater than control mortality for S. carpocapsae Kapow, S. feltiae Umea, and S. scapterisci. Of the four most promising nematodes S. carpocapsae (Mexican), and S. feltiae (Pye, SN and SD34W) LC50 values ranged from 1.5 to 61.8 nematodes per host in the filter paper assays. Assays in poultry litter material for revealed LC50 values to be
5.8 and 14.6 nematodes per host for the Mexican S. carpocapsae and Pye S. feltiae strains. A study on the extent of genetic variation among geographically disperse litter beetle population has been started using DNA sequences of the nuclear rDNA ITS1 region and the mtDNA COII gene. Litter beetle populations from Arkansas, Alberta, England, Russia, Taiwan, Israel, and South Africa have been subjected to DNA sequencing. No genetic variation was observed in the mtDNA marker, and one variable nucleotide site was found in the ITS1 region. Additional populations will be added to determine the extent of genetic variation in this species and if there are any genetically distinct populations.
Impacts
Our results suggest that Steinernema carpocapsae Mexican and S. feltiae Pye strains has the greatest potential for control of A. diaperinus adults in the poultry environment. Population genetic analysis suggests that there are no barriers to gene flow in this species.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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