- February 28, 2011 Volume 4, Issue 1 Veterinary Entomology

Insect Updates Special Interest Articles: Hay bale feeding sites breed stable flies With winter weather fly entomologist at KSU, notes manure medium populations decline, this is that cattle feeding from round - Use modified feeders, • Stable flies enjoyed by producers and bales can waste up to 50% of such as cone feeders, livestock alike. But as soon the hay, and that wasted hay • Grasshopper which reduce hay waste research as spring arrives the flies will mixed with manure will return. The large number of become an ideal habitat for - Unroll round bales on • Brown stomach stable flies that begin stable fly larvae. pastures, but not over the attacking pastured cattle in same site worm It is important to conduct the spring and early summer management practices in the - Spread out accumulated • Foot and mouth will most likely come from the winter that will limit fly hay-manure medium to disease outbreak winter round-bale feeding populations later. dry sites. - Frequently move - Encourage neighbors to Dr. Alberto Broce, emeritus feeding tubs to prevent use similar practices professor and livestock accumulation of hay- Rangeland burning to control grasshoppers Each year state and federal USDA/ARS research group in 80% of shallow-laid eggs are control agencies spend Montana is researching ways to killed by fire. The deeper- millions of dollars to control better manage GH outbreaks by laid eggs remain unharmed. grasshopper and cricket using controlled burns on Controlled burns are just a populations. During a rangeland. They are looking at tool, not a solution, in the particularly bad infestation, the effect burning has on the fight against GHs. The the cost can skyrocket. mortality of GHs and unhatched researchers are also looking Coupled with the loss of eggs. Individual at the effects grazing has on revenue for farmers and Highlights: It has been assumed that the grasshopper populations; ranchers, a grasshopper insects living or hibernating in so far, season-long grazing infestation could cost our Insect Updates 1 the soil would be protected from and control burning have the country billions of dollars per grassland fires but the greatest affect on GH Cattle Care 2 year. researchers have shown that numbers. Pesticides 3

Disease/Health 3 Catnip oil repels bloodsucking flies Special Topics 4 Catnip oil has been proven The research group made making the repellent action 99% effective at repelling pellets of catnip oil, soy and last longer, which is important Journal Review 5 bloodsucking flies that attack paraffin wax, and spread them to putting catnip to use in horses and cows. Junwei Zhu in a cattle feedlot. Within protecting livestock both in and colleagues took a look at minutes, the pellets shooed feedlots and pastures. the effects catnip oil would the flies away, with the http://esciencenews.com/articl have on stable flies. Catnip oil repellent action lasting for es/2011/02/02/shoo.fly.catnip. has already been shown to almost 3 hours. oil.repels.bloodsucking.flies repel more than a dozen Pellets without catnip oil had families of insects, including no effect on the flies. The house flies, mosquitoes and scientists are working on cockroaches.

Veterinary Entomology Page 2 of 6

Cattle Care The brown stomach worm One parasite that all cattle easily. Animal Health Veterinary producers in all parts of the The brown stomach worm is a Operations, “injectables really country should keep an eye bloodsucker that causes do the best job on internal out for this spring is the irritation and inflammation to parasites, but lice control is brown stomach worm, the stomach and intestinal better with pour-ons.” Sides Ostertagia ostertagi. linings of cattle. A result of the also recommends producers It is the No.1 most damaging inflamed, irritated stomach deworm cattle in the spring parasite in cattle and can lining is that infected cattle will when cattle are grass fed, to “ The brown stomach worm inhibit feed intake, meaning not properly absorb nutrients. protect against the brown costs the industry up to $3 cattle don’t gain like they stomach worm and other According to Gary Sides, a should and can’t fight off parasites. billion annually in lost cattle nutritionist fro Pfizer other health issues as weight gains; poor feed conversion and increased disease. ” Tips from NCBA trade show: Control parasites at the right time improving their response to Merial – springtime deworming intake. pre-breeding vaccines. is a proven tool for protecting Pfizer – also stresses the reproductive performance and importance of spring Boehringer Ingelheim – as boosting calf weaning weights. deworming, pointing out that important as parasite control is, Springs treatments for cows and even through a cold winter, producers could do it too often calves help prevent pasture Texas AgriLife Extension parasites survive just fine in or use inappropriate products contamination with worm eggs PDF - Equine Piroplasmosis their dormant state on pastures. and contribute to resistance and larvae that can build up As soon as the grass greens up problems in target parasites. through the grazing season. Equine Piroplasmosis is a you have worms. Treatment at Treat for external parasites with Treated cows have improved this time improves productivity specific products rather than tick-borne disease resulting appetites and better forage and protects cow health by from infection of horses, broad-spectrum insecticides. mules, donkeys and zebras Cow-Calf: Improper dosing can be costly by the protozoal blood It’s no surprise that due to medicine costs, labor, expensive pharmaceutical doesn’t occur and that this is parasites Babesia caballi or unforeseen circumstances performance loss, need for Theileria equi. cattle are sometimes given the retreatment and potentially minimal potential for any toxic

wrong dose of an antibiotic death loss. effects to the animal or unintentionally. This can lead to extended drug residue. This new publication by Administering the correct some important economic Treating according to body Extension specialists gives dosage of medicine can help increases from additional weight will ensure that detailed information on ensure that overuse of an overdoses do not occur. what it is, why it is important, vaccines and IVOMEC Spring Challenge tests to use against it and Merial is conducting the weight versus the 2010 weight spring,” says Frank Hurtig, IVOMEC Spring Challenge does not cover the purchase DVM, MBA, director, Merial travel restrictions because th of it. again for the 4 year in a price for the IVOMEC product Large Animal Veterinary row. The event benefits used in the spring, Merial will Services. “The goal is for http://animalscience.tamu.e producers with a risk-free provide an equal number of producers to see a financial way to ensure spring parasite doses of any IVOMEC Brand gain from their parasite du/images/pdf/equine/equin control pays. Product for fall. control investment. Because e-piroplasmosis.pdf we have confidence in our To participate, producers “Merial recognizes that in a products, we are willing to simply need to use any tight economy, it’s difficult to back them so that if IVOMEC Brand Product on justify input costs if you aren’t improvements aren’t both their cows and calves in sure you are getting enough achieved, producers won’t the spring. At weaning, if the return, but nothing pays off risk a profit loss on improved 205-day adjusted like parasite control in the treatment expenses.”

Pesticides Update/Outlook Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers http://epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/ their contents at once to fumigate an result in illness. fogger.htm area. Because these products are The fact sheet addresses: EPA developed this referenced fact often used around homes and - Pest Prevention First sheet to help users reduce potential aerosol propellants in these foggers - Safety Precautions hazards associated with total are typically flammable, improper - Take Other Common-Sense release foggers. Total release use may cause a fire or explosion. Precautions In addition to this hazard, failure to foggers, aka “bug bombs,” are - EPA Labeling Actions to Reduce pesticide products that contain vacate premises during fogging or Risk of Fire aerosol propellants that release reentering without airing out may - For more Information

Human & Animal Disease & Health

South Korea fails to stop FMD outbreak Damage has been estimated at more It has been confirmed by South The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, than $1.8 billion. Korea that vaccinations developed to Forestry and Fisheries have reported protect the country’s remaining herds 141 confirmed cases of animals with Despite the culling, the outbreak against the latest foot-and-mouth FMD since November 2010, when the continues to stretch across the first case of the latest outbreak was disease outbreak have failed. It has country. The current outbreak is the been confirmed that an additional documented. Since then 3 million most severe in the country’s history, case of the disease was diagnosed head of livestock, mainly hogs and which goes back to 2000. at a pig farm south of Seoul following cattle were culled as a precautionary the completion of FMD vaccinations. measure.

LSU AgCenter vaccine fights against cattle disease Scientists at the LSU AgCenter have The vaccine developed is a developed a vaccine that is showing “killed” vaccine, which means it results in preventing anaplasmosis, a uses the dead disease organism disease that costs U.S. cattle and to create immunity in cattle. This dairy producers an estimated $300 is the only “killed” vaccine million a year. available to prevent anaplasmosis. It’s being Anaplasmosis is spread by ticks and marketed by University Products destroys red blood cells in cattle. LLC, according to an agriculture department news release.

Brucellosis infects Texas cattle herd According to the Texas Animal The last known case in Texas Health Commission, a cattle herd occurred five years ago. in South Texas tested positive for A full investigation is underway brucellosis at a livestock market. to determine the source of the TAHC state epidemiologist Dr. disease and to track if any cattle Andy Schwartz said the herd may with the disease left the herd. have been infected for a while, but The infection highlights the the disease went undiagnosed importance of ongoing cattle due to lack of sales of adult test- surveillance and an effective eligible cattle. Brucellosis affects system for tracing exposed cattle causing abortions, weak animals. calves and low milk production.

Veterinary Entomology Page 4 of 6

Special Topics of Interest

HSUS placed on charity watchdog “naughty” list The 2010 “Watchdog Report” from $1.2 million, a staggering $600,000 will movement, studied HSUS’s 2009 Animal People News, has determined likely go to raise more money, pay federal income tax return and that the Humane Society of the United lobbyists, and fund HSUS’s $11 million determined that 50% of HSUS costs States (HSUS) spends 50 cents for pension plan. “HSUS’s skewed were “overhead,” not 29% as HSUS every donated dollar on continued spending priorities leave countless claims.

fundraising and additional overhead shelters without funds in today’s tough CCF’s own analysis of HSUS’s costs. economy,” CCF reports. recent tax fillings indicates that HSUS conducted a fundraiser for the Animal People News, the well-regarded HSUS shares less than 1% of the holidays in which they hoped to get newspaper of the animal-rights public’s contributions with America’s underfunded pet shelters. What beef producers should be thinking about for spring? With spring just around the corner ID, birth date, calving difficulty score supplements, conduct a needs there are 13 key things to think about. and birth weight. assessment of your cowherd. 1. Manage calving pens and 6. Calving books are essential 10. When making genetic selections, pastures to minimize human, cow sources of information; make sure you use the most recent National Cattle and calf stress. Stay organized. have a backup copy. Evaluation and herd records 2. An observation schedule should 7. Body condition score cows. Thin judiciously. be implemented for calving first-calf and young cows will need extra energy 11. If new bulls are purchased, now is heifers and cows; check every 2-3 to maintain yearly calving interval. the time to start preparing them for hours. 8. If cow diets are going to be shifted their first breeding season. Bulls need 3. Sanitation is key to reducing from low- (poor quality forage or to be properly vaccinated and and/or eliminating calf scours. dormant grass) to high-quality forage condition to be athletic. 4. Make sure every calf consumes (lush green grass) programs, begin a 12. After calving and before breeding, adequate colostrum during the first 4- grass tetany prevention program at vaccinate cows as recommended by 12 hours after birth. least 3 weeks prior to the forage your veterinarian. 5. Keep accurate calving records, switch. 13. Plan to attend beef production including cow identification (ID), calf 9. Given the high price of mineral meetings. Source – Drovers CattleNetwork

Effects of winter storms slowly work through markets Two major winter storms that hit just work their way out of the system. number of stocker cattle have a week apart in February have experienced poor performance and affected virtually all sectors of cattle Spring calving is well under way. perhaps some weight loss for several and beef markets, causing producers Theses cows are vulnerable, days. The storms even caused some to scramble to care for animals and especially from a nutritional death loss, although not widespread. maintain production. standpoint. Nutritional stress can lead to weak calves and death loss, “Many cattle on wheat had limited “Significant snowfall and record low as well as possibly poor rebreeding forage available, so they have temperatures, especially with the rates that would affect the 2012 calf already moved to market or will be wind chills, have disrupted markets crop. moving very soon,” McDaniel said. and pushed both cattle and cattle “The winter storms caused several managers well out of their normal “It’s important to provide adequate cattle auctions in OK to close, but operating ranges,” said Derrel Peel, quantity and quality of feed for cows they are back open and running Oklahoma State University in order to avoid loss of condition that again.” Cooperative Extension livestock may not be apparent until after they marketing specialist. calve and begin lactating,” said Likewise, it does not appear that the Leland McDaniel, Carter County storms affected the feedlots; no The worst part of all this, is that Extension director and agricultural major cattle losses in the southern analysts expect it to take some time educator. Great Plains states were for the ripple effects of the storm to experienced. It has already been reported that a

Journal Reviews Host blood meal identification by multiplex polymerase chain reaction for dispersal evidence of stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) between livestock facilities. 2011. Pitzer et al. J Med Entomol. 48: 53-60. A species-specific multiplex polymerase Stable fly blood meals were amplified facilities and cattle pastures. chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 65% with cattle blood, 24% with horse The Impact. The stable fly has the ability cytochrome b gene of cattle, horses, blood, 9.5% with human blood and 1.6% to travel short distances within a 48 hr humans and dogs was developed in with dog blood. period, therefore indicating that onsite order to determine the blood meal A dispersal range of 0.8 to 1.5 km was sanitation of horse facilities may not be source from collected stable flies. found to occur between the horse enough to protect the horses from bites. Assessing permethrin resistance in the stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae) in Florida by using laboratory selections and field evaluations. 2010. Pitzer et al. J Econ Entomol. 103: 2258-2253. The stable flies’ susceptibility to the demonstrated a maximum of 57 and concentration. Five generations of pyrethroid permethrin was 21% survival to permethrin residues of laboratory permethrin selection determined in Florida in order to 3X and 10X the LC99 of a susceptible increased resistance 15-fold. assess the possibility of resistance strain, respectively. Stable flies from a development. facility with no record of insecticide use The Impact. Resistance to permethrin demonstrated a 20% survival to 3X products are possible without insecticide Field collected stable flies class rotation. The ability of selected pupal parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to locate stable fly hosts in a soiled equine bedding substrate. 2011. Pitzer et al. Environ Entomol. 40: 88-93. The ability of three parasitoid wasps to the second consisted of plastic cups both setups and effectively located pupae in find stable fly pupae in a laboratory with wood chips. the large chambers. setting was evaluated with two different The Spalangia spp. were found to be The Impact. Parasitoid wasps are effective arenas. The first arena consisted of more effective in locating stable fly against stable flies but species is important, large chambers of field-collected, pupae than Muscidifurax raptorellus in M. raptorellus is not recommended. soiled equine bedding substrate and The potential of house flies to act as a vector of avian influenza subtype H5N1 under experimental conditions. 2011. Wanaratana et al. Med Vet Entomol. 25: 58-63. The objective of this study was to The house flies were then later tested The Impact. The data shows that investigate the potential for house flies to under various situations with RT-PCR to house flies may harbor the AI virus harbor the avian influenza (AI) H5N1 look for the AI virus. and could therefore become a virus. Laboratory-reared flies were fed a mechanical vector of the virus. More mixture containing the AI virus. work is necessary. Laboratory and field evaluation of formulated Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis as a feed additive and using topical applications for control of Musca domestica(Diptera: Muscidae) larvae in caged- poultry manure. 2011. Mwamburi et al. Environ Entomol. 40: 52-58. The acute toxicity of B. thuringiensis var. The lab results showed larvae to be treatment. israelensis was evaluated against larvae susceptible to Bti after duration of time The Impact. Adding Bti to chicken feed in the lab, in the field via chicken feed and increased exposure. In the field, could potentially manage and control and as a topical application in poultry larvae were showing a 90% reduction house fly populations in caged-poultry houses. from feed additives after 4 weeks of facilities. Efficiency of sulphur in garlic extract and non-sulphur homeopathy in the control of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. 2011. Costa-Junior & Furlong. Med Vet Entomol. 25: 7-11.

The objective of this project was to the control, group 2 treated with non- The sulphur product was 64% and the evaluate the efficacy of a non-sulphur- sulphur preparation and group 3 non-sulphur product was 24% efficient based homeopathic preparation and a treated with sulphur product. Cattle at decreasing the number of engorged sulphur-containing natural product were infested with 8000 tick larvae females. against infestation by the cattle tick. twice per week for 5 months. Engorged females were recorded The Impact. Suplur products can The project consisted of three groups and collected every 14 days. reduce the intensity of a cattle tick of 6-8 month old cattle; group 1 was infestation.

Veterinary Entomology Page 6 of 6 Sonja L. Swiger, PhD Long-term after-effects of cold exposure in adult Alphitobius diaperinus Assist. Professor

Livestock Extension (Tenebrionidae): the need to link survival ability with subsequent reproductive

Entomologist success. 2011. Renault. Ecol Entomol. 36: 36-42. and reproductive success but in The effects of cold on survival survival and reproductive and reproductive ability of success. The non-acclimated Texas it is not cold enough for 1229 North US Hwy 281 long enough to have an impact. Stephenville, TX 76401 adult darkling beetles are beetles exhibited reproductive The beetles are able to overcome examined. decline. CELL: cold exposure after a few days (239) 220-0168 Acclimated beetles fared The Impact. Cold affects the when temperatures become better in the cold for both darkling beetles survivability optimal. PHONE: (254) 968-4144 Responses of susceptible and cyfluthrin-resistant broiler house populationsof

lesser mealworm (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to γ-cyhalothrin. 2010. Lambkin et al. E-MAIL: J Econ Entomol. 103: 2155-2163. [email protected] The resistance and cross- The adult beetles were found The Impact. Over use of resistance of the lesser to show resistance to both cyhalothrin in the poultry mealworm to cyfluthrin and chemicals either directly or industry could lead to cyhalothrin was looked at with from cross-resistance. resistance to both it and field populations in Australia. cyfluthrin.

Enhanced repellency of binary mixtures of Zanthoxylum ar matum seed oil, vanillin,

and their aerosols to mosquitoes under laboratory and field conditions. 2011. Kwon

et al. J Med Entomol. 48: 61-66.

The repellency of seed oil, Mixing seed oil and vanillin comparable to that of DEET.

alone or combined with with the previously examined T he Impact. Further testing is vanillin, and four other fruit fruit oils, increased mosquito needed but there is potential oils, were evaluated against repellency for a 10-min for natural oils to be effective female Aedes aegypti exposure period to greater repellents against biting mosquitoes in the laboratory than 90%; the results were mosquitoes.

and field. Large -scale monitoring of imidacloprid susceptibility in the cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis. 2011. Rust et al. Med Vet Entomol. 25: 1-6

Eggs were collected and ensuing fleas A n extensive study was conducted The Impact. Despite the worldwide use worldwide (Australia, Germany, France, were treated with larval flea-rearing of imidacloprid on cat fleas, results UK and USA) that looked at the medium that contained imidacloprid. show it to be effective and cat fleas still resistance potential of the cat flea to are susceptible to it. Survival rates of >5% and development of imidacloprid. adult fleas occurred in only 22 isolates. Meteorological effects on the daily activity patterns of tabanids biting flies in northern Queensland, Australia. 2011. Van Hennekeler et al. Med Vet Entomol. 25: 17-24.

This study looked at the effects of The results showed that there was Also, only extreme weather conditions are various meteorological factors on the tabanid activity throughout the entire day likely to inhibit activity of all species. daily activity patterns of common and not one specific time better for The Impact. It is necessary to know what species of tabanids. Each of the trapping. This also meant that pathogen species is attacking in order to properly species studied had a different transmission is of high risk the entire control and trap. Tabanids bite all day response to weather factors. day. long and protection from them is still hard to manage.

Livestock/veterinary website http://livestockvetento.tamu.edu