A PILOT BLACK FLY (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) CONTROL PROGRAM USING BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS VAR. ISRAELENSIS IN NEWFOUNDLAND

1984 ◽  
Vol 116 (8) ◽  
pp. 1085-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. H. Colbo ◽  
H. O'Brien

AbstractA pilot black fly control program using Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis on a small stream system near St. John's, Newfoundland resulted in a 70% or greater population reduction of adult black flies from the previous year. The species present in the system were Prosimulium mixtum, Stegopterna mutata, Eusimulium vernum, Simulium tuberosum, S. venustum/verecundum complex, and S. vittatum. The formulation used was Teknar® flowable concentrate (Sandoz Inc.) rated at 600 ITU/mg which proved effective against the larval stages of all black fly species at a dose of 10 ppm for 1 min. The results indicated that this agent will be effective if applied at the appropriate locations and times. The 1-min dose was practical except in very cold water (0°–7 °C) where a 5-min or longer dose may be required. The unpredictable relief pattern of the northern streams resulted in a highly variable downstream carry for the B.t.i. Therefore application sites must be determined by a stream survey and not just from discharge characteristics.

1981 ◽  
Vol 113 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. R. Westwood ◽  
R. A. Brust

AbstractTen species of black flies were collected from the Souris River, Manitoba between April 1977 and October 1978. Adults of Simulium luggeri Nicholson and Mickel, Simulium meridionale Riley, Simulium venustum Say, Simulium verecundum Stone and Jamnback, and Simulium johannseni johannseni (Hart) were collected feeding on livestock and humans, and are well known pest species. Simulium vittatum Zetterstedt was the most abundant species, but was not a pest on man or domestic animals. Simulium tuberosum (Lundström) and Simulium johannseni duplex Shewell and Fredeen were the least abundant species. Simulium j. johannseni, S. j. duplex, S. venustum, S. verecundum, S. tuberosum, and Cnephia dacotensis (Dyar and Shannon) appeared to be univoltine species while S. luggeri, S. meridionale, Simulium decorum Walker, and S. vittatum were multivoltine in the Souris River.An evaluation of cone, plate, rope, and wire cage sampling devices for black fly larvae and pupae indicated that cone samplers provided a more representative sample for population assessment.In a black fly control program, of the Souris River, Manitoba two separate larvicide treatments in spring may be necessary. In the case of two treatments, the first should be aimed at late instar larvae of S. j. johannseni, S. venustum, and S. verecundum. Since the majority of S. luggeri and S. meridionale would be in the egg stage at this time, a second treatment, 10–14 days later, would be necessary to control late instar larvae of these species.


1989 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen D. Reiling ◽  
Kevin J. Boyle ◽  
Hsiang-tai Cheng ◽  
Marcia L. Phillips

Contingent valuation is used to measure the benefits of a proposed public program to control black flies. Respondents’ reported values are analyzed from three perspectives: data outliers, consistency between respondents’ reported values and their perceptions of black flies, and the temporal reliability of the values expressed by respondents. The results suggest that the estimated contingent values are plausible even though a majority of respondents expressed a value of zero dollars for the black fly control program.


1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
L.M. Dosdall ◽  
M.M. Galloway ◽  
J.T. Arnason ◽  
P. Morand

AbstractThe efficacy of alpha-terthienyl (α-T) for reducing larval populations of black flies was determined in two streams in southeastern Ontario. By 24 h post-treatment, larval black fly population reductions greater than 90% resulted from exposure to calculated dosages of 0.04 and 0.10 mg-L−1 α-T emulsifiable concentrate over distances of 1.0 and 1.5 km, respectively. Significant population reductions were not observed 2.3 km downstream from injection of the 0.10 mg·L−1 dosage, probably because a marshy area upstream from this sampling site slowed the transport and enhanced photodegradation of α-T. Alpha-terthienyl initiated catastrophic drift of benthic invertebrates that was not selective for any functional feeding group. Significant increases in post-treatment drift, relative to pre-treatment densities, were observed downstream from treatment for eight of 10 taxa studied and included filter-feeders, grazers, and predators. Upstream from treatment, significant increases between sampling days were observed for only two taxa. The catastrophic and nonselective impact of α-T on invertebrate drift preclude its usefulness as an alternative to black fly larvicides used currently, although specialized applications for α-T may exist in integrated black fly control programs.


1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
John K. Jackson ◽  
Bernard W. Sweeney ◽  
Thomas L. Bott ◽  
J. Denis Newbold ◽  
Louis A. Kaplan

The microbial pesticide Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (B.t.i.) was applied aerially to suppress larval black fly populations in the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania. We quantified (1) the passage and retention of B.t.i. spores through a 1.5-km reach and (2) changes in black fly and nontarget macroinvertebrate abundances in the drift and benthos. B.t.i. exposure in the treatment riffle was 1.16 × 105 min-spores/mL or 16 min-mg/L in 1989 and 5.20 × 104 min-spores/mL or 4.4 min-mg/L in 1990. Retention of B.t.i. within the reach was low. While black fly drift from the treatment riffle increased markedly, B.t.i. appeared to have little effect on drift densities of most nontarget macroinvertebrates during the 48-h period following application. Similarly, benthic densities of black flies in the treatment riffle decreased significantly 1 d after the B.t.i. application whereas benthic densities of most nontarget taxa in the treatment riffle and depositional zone appeared unaffected 1, 7, and 28 d following B.t.i. application. Responses potentially related to B.t.i. exposure were observed for the aquatic lepidopteran Petrophila and the chironomid Polypedilum. These results suggest that the application of B.t.i. on the Susquehanna River markedly reduces black fly populations, but does not negatively affect most nontarget macroinvertebrates.


2013 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
P. Radeghieri ◽  
F. Santi ◽  
S. Maini

Four field trials were conducted in Mantua province in northern Italy to evaluate the effect of the <em>Bacillus thuringiensis</em> subsp. israelensis Strain AM65-52 based VectoBac® 12 AS larvicide on black flies. Our objective was to examine and compare the efficacy of different concentrations of this microbial larvicide in small plain streams. Larvicidal activity was exhibited in all trials. VectoBac® 12 AS at 2.5 ppm/min rate generated larval mortality from the treatment point to 500 meters downstream. Larvae mortality (over 80%) was observed for 3500 meters downstream of the application site when a concentration of 40 ppm/min was applied.


1984 ◽  
Vol 116 (7) ◽  
pp. 975-981 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence A. Pistrang ◽  
John F. Burger

AbstractA small, undisturbed stream in central New Hampshire was treated for 1 min with a 10 ppm suspension of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (B.t.i.) to determine the effect on an outlet-breeding black fly population and associated nontarget aquatic insects. The black fly larval population was eliminated and susbsequent adult black fly biting activity reduced near the treatment site although weather conditions may also have contributed to an observed decrease in biting activity. Some Chironomidae were killed by B.t.i. but they were not abundant enough to adequately assess impact on their populations. Temporary increases in the drift of two Ephemeroptera and two Trichoptera species were observed following treatment. Increase in rate of drift was inversely related to increase in distance from the treatment point. Slight increases in observed drift of three Plecoptera species could not be attributed directly to the B.t.i. treatment. No direct mortality caused by B.t.i. was observed in any stream insects studied except black fly larvae and some Chironomidae.


1978 ◽  
Vol 110 (10) ◽  
pp. 1103-1110 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. B. McKague ◽  
R. B. Pridmore ◽  
P. M. Wood

AbstractAdult emergence of Simulium verecundum S. and J. and S. decorum Walk. was reduced 58–94% by exposure of late instar larvae to 0.1 ppm Altosid or Altosid SR-10 for 1 h. Pupae were not affected by the presence of 0.1 ppm Altosid SR-10 in the rearing water. Adult emergence of S. verecundum was reduced 95% when mixed larval instars were reared in the presence of 0.001 ppm Dimilin. Last instar larvae died as a result of abnormal metamorphosis. Black fly mortality was 86–100% with 1-h exposures to 0 1–0.2 ppm Dimilin, and 100% with a 15-min exposure to 1 ppm at 22 ± 2 °C, lower temperatures giving similar results.Release of Altosid over a 48-h period from formulated blocks gave a concentration of 0.002–0.006 ppm in a small stream. Emergence of adults was completely suppressed for 23 days 18 m downstream and 17 days 43 m downstream. Applications of 1 ppm Dimilin for 15 min to two streams resulted in the gradual elimination of black fly larvae from artificial substrates, a high reduction in adult emergence, and the formation of abnormal larvae following the tests. The maximum concentration of Dimilin detected in the water was 0.31 ppm during application; however, submerged vegetation residues as high as 18.9 ppm were found 1 h following the second application, decreasing to less than 0.05 ppm 14 days later.


1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (1) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard W. Merritt ◽  
Mark S. Wipfli ◽  
R.S. Wotton

AbstractThe effects of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis de Barjac (B.t.i.) on the feeding habits of two black fly predators, Nigronia serricornis (Say) and Acroneuria lycorias (Newman), and a detritivore, Prostoia completa (Walker), were examined. We assessed whether B.t.i.-killed and hot water-killed black fly larvae were less or more desirable to these consumers than live larvae. Nigronia larvae showed no significant differences in predation on larvae within the three categories. Acroneuria nymphs consumed more live than dead prey. Experiments with the detritivore, Prostoia, showed that they preferred dead black fly larvae to live ones. Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis treatment may have little direct effect on nontarget organisms, but these studies indicate that there still may be consequences for predators and detritivores when a viable population of larval black flies is transformed into dead organic matter.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 306-310
Author(s):  
Michael C. Cavallaro ◽  
Eric Risley ◽  
Paige Lockburner

ABSTRACT Sentinel surveillance systems demonstrate an improved ability to supplement monitoring data and anticipate arbovirus outbreaks (i.e., sentinel avian species). Management complications can arise during unpredictable or unseasonal disease detections, especially in rural areas where resident distribution is patchy. Using spillways near residential lake communities as static surveillance locations, we tested a novel partially submerged sticky trapping technique and screened wild populations of adult female black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) for West Nile virus (WNV) and eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV). Trap site selection criteria considered the density of immature black fly colonization on spillway surfaces and the number of positive detections of arboviral targets in nearby Culex mosquito populations. On average (±standard error), sticky traps captured 134 (±33) adult black flies over a 24-h period, with 1 trap capturing as many as 735 individuals. Although we detected positive cases of WNV from 20 Culex mosquito trapping sites within 16 km (approx. flight radius) of the selected lake spillways, mixed pools of adult female Simulium vittatum complex and Simulium decorum were all negative for both arboviruses. This study yielded an application for partially submerged sticky traps to collect adult female black flies. Its potential uses for monitoring the infection rates of more well-documented Simulium parasites are discussed.


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