Fly Control for Poultry

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House flies (musca domestica) are an established pest of both farm and home. In poultry facilities, excessive fly populations are not only a nuisance to workers, but also serve as vectors for disease transmission. Effective fly control is critical in preventing disease outbreaks, maintaining productivity and improving community relations.

Impact of Flies on Poultry

Flies pose a significant risk to the biosecurity of poultry production unites. Flies can harbour more than 100 different pathogenic organisms, including bacteria, viruses and protozoa, many of which can cause disease in humans and/or animals^1,2. These pathogens are physically transmitted by flies or indirectly via fly 'spots' (ie. fly faeces and vomit) deposited on buildings, equipment and feed². Fly 'spots' on eggs can transmit pathogens and reduce market value. Flies are also vectors for the transmission of protozoan parasites, tapeworm eggs and antibiotic-resistant bacteria^3,4.

Heavy fly infestations can irritate birds, reducing their feed intake and performance⁴. Besides reducing meat and egg production, large fly populations can negatively impact the profitability of poultry operations via increased treatment and cleaning costs⁵. Cleaning fly 'spots' from walls, equipment and light fixtures (to prevent reduced illumination) involves considerable time and cost⁶.

Birds are not the only species impacted by flies. Excessive fly populations can be an irritant to farm workers, reducing their concentration and productivity. Flies are capable of travelling long distances in search of food or a more favourable breeding environment, meaning your farm may post a threat to public health that can result in litigation and even closure^6,7.

Integrated Pest Management for Fly Control

Effective fly control relies on a comprehensive integrated pest management strategy that combines various methods to target flies at different stages of their life cycle. This approach not only minimises reliance on chemical control but also promotes long-term, sustainable fly management.

Monitoring

Regular monitoring is crucial for understanding fly population dynamics and informing control decisions. Several monitoring tools are available:

Spot cards: Index cards placed throughout the facility to track fly specks (excreta and vomit).
Sticky ribbons or tapes: Used to capture adult flies for counting and species identification.
Scudder grid: A wooden grid used to count resting flies in specific areas.
Baited jug traps: Traps containing attractants and insecticides to capture adult flies.
Larval monitoring: Regular inspection of manure for larval development using visual inspection, pupal traps or extraction methods.

Sanitation

Maintaining a clean and dry environment is fundamental to fly control. Sanitation of poultry operations includes:

Manure management: Dry manure is less conducive to fly breeding. Proper ventilation, drainage and regular manure removal are essential. Staggered manure removal by preserving a base of old manure, can help conserve beneficial fly predators and parasites.
Water management: Minimising water leaks and spills reduces breeding sites.
Facility hygiene: Regular cleaning of surfaces, equipment and surrounding areas helps eliminate food sources and resting sites for flies.

Mechanical Control

Mechanical control involves the use of devices to control flies. This may include physical exclusion with screens or fans to prevent entry into poultry houses and fly traps. Electric insect killers may be useful in smaller areas like offices and related areas near to poultry houses.

Biological Control

Biological control should be part of an overall fly control program in poultry operations, and can include parasitic wraps, predatory beetles and mites, entomopathogenic nematodes, insect-disease-causing microorganisms and plant-based repellents.

Chemical Fly Control Options

Use of insecticides for fly control is an important component in an integrated fly control program. It is impossible to eradicate all flies, so control practices are directed at reducing fly populations to tolerable levels.

Producers must monitor fly populations on a regular basis in order to evaluate the fly management program and decide when insecticide applications are required. Physical or biological control methods should be utilised before chemical treatments to manage potential insecticide resistance.

Chemical Fly Control Application Methods

Adulticides

Residual sprays: Applied to surfaces where flies rest, providing long-term control. These are an effective and economical method to control high infestations of flies and should be applied in the places where flies rest, including walls, roofs, cords and pipes both inside and outside buildings. Pyrethroids and Spinosad fit in this category.
Space sprays or mist sprays: Provide quick knockdown of flies but have limited residual activity.
Baits: Attract and kill flies using food or sex attractants and are effective for maintaining low fly populations. They are available as scattered baits, bait stations or spray/paint-on applications. Baits often contain neonicotinoids.
Spray baits: Attract flies to treated surfaces where flies consume the bait. Spray baits typically contain an attractant and a neonicotinoid.
Paint baits: Similar to spray baits but applied as a thick paint to surfaces.

Larvacides

Larvicidal feed-throughs: Added to animal feed to make manure toxic to fly larvae. Cyromazine is a common feed-through larvicide.
Larvicidal sprays or liquid solutions: Applied directly to manure surfaces to kill fly larvae. Cyromazine or Spinosad are often used. It is recommended to apply only as a spot on treatment with high numbers of larvae to reduce the toxic effect on populations of beneficial insects in the manure.
Larvicidal granules: Applied to hard-to-reach breeding areas. A small fertiliser spreader drops granules into the spaces between the slats allowing a consistent application to breeding areas below the slats.

Insecticide Resistance Manangement

The indiscriminate use of insecticides can lead to the development of resistance, rendering them ineffective. To mitigate this risk:

Rotate insecticides: Alternate between different chemical classes (e.g. pyrethroids, organophosphates, spinosyns, neonicotinoids) to prevent flies from developing resistance to a single class.
Use non-chemical control methods: Prioritise sanitation, mechanical control and biological control whenever possible to reduce reliance on insecticides.
Follow label instructions: Use only approved insecticides and adhere to recommended dosages and application methods.
Monitor resistance: Regularly assess the effectiveness of insecticides and report any suspected resistance to appropriate authorities.

1. Greenburg, B. (1965). Flies and Disease. Scientific American, 213(1):92-9. 2. Smallegange, R. C. & den Otter, C. J. (2007). Houseflies, annoying and dangerous. From Emerging pests and vector-borne diseases in Europe (Vol 1). Takken, W., & Knols, B.G.J. Wageningen Academic Publishers: The Netherlands. 281-292. 3. Forster, M. et al. (2012). Flies as vectors of parasites potentially inducing severe diseases in humans and animals. From Athropods as vectors of emerging diseases. Parasitology Research Monograph, 10:227. 4. Acharya, N. (2015). House fly (Musca domestica L.) management in poultry production using fungal biopesticides. Doctoral Thesis, The Pennsylvania State University. Available at: https://etda.libraries.psu.edu/files/final_submissions/10904.5. Ward, D. & Lachance, S. (2015). House fly control in poultry barns. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). Publication 849. On-line: http://omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/housefly.pdf 6. Axtell, R. C. & Arends, J. J. (1990). Ecology and management of arthropod pests of poultry. Annual review of entomology. 35:101-26. 7. Axtell, R.C. (1986). Fly management in poultry production: cultural, biological, and chemical. Poult. Sci. 65:657-67.

Always read and follow the label directions.