Archive for May, 2018
Development of fruit fly control strategies
The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) constitutes one of the key pests of citrus, being the target of many IPM programs around the Mediterranean Sea. This species has a great ability to disperse, to use alternative hosts and displays a great developmental plasticity allowing it to survive most of the year, contributing […]
A tale of two squirrels
The two species of squirrel resident in the United Kingdom (UK) are Sciurus vulgaris (native European Red Squirrel) and Sciurus carolinensis (North American Eastern Grey Squirrel), the latter introduced as a fashionable addition to estates in the 1870’s. Its population of 2.5 million is spread over most of the UK and dwarves the 140,000 native […]
Preliminary tests to validate the effectiveness of the Inpest pheromone dispenser patch
Monitoring traps are often used to catch certain species of stored product insect pests and in these traps a pheromone attractant is used to lure the insects. Once attracted, a sticky board or bucket captures the insect. In the case of stored product moths, the pheromones are sex attractants which attract only males of the […]
How climate change is creating a global pest problem
Rentokil Steritech have identified climate change as a factor that is accelerating the damages caused by pests, which could result in a wider spread of infectious diseases, increased crop destruction, extensive electrical damage and food safety issues. As most pests are more prevalent in warmer climates, the impact of an increasing temperature could be potentially […]
The day of the jackal and a wolf in dogs’ clothing?
French shepherds are angry about EU laws stop them from killing the wolves, which are attacking their sheep, especially since they claim to have evidence showing most of these canine predators are hybrid animals arising from cross breeding between wolves and domestic dogs. Such animals they say can be legally shot and killed without the […]
Managing SWD – a fly of mass destruction
There are approximately 1,500 known species in the genus Drosophila. Although sometimes called fruit flies, true fruit flies belong to the family Tephritidae and are larger in size. The majority of Drosophila flies are associated with rotten or over-ripened fruits and are nuisance pests. However, a few species such as the Spotted-Wing Drosophila (SWD), Drosophila […]
New challenges in housefly management in poultry farms across The Philippines
The common housefly, Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae), is now an emerging pest in animal shelters and animal farms across The Philippines. A number of farms, mostly those housing chickens in traditional sheds, where closed by The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and local governments in the country in 2017, due to the […]
The birth of a fly control products manufacturer
In the 19th Century, Sheep Scab,caused by the mite Psoroptes ovis, was a serious problem. Not only were the health and welfare of valuable flocks affected, but also significant income could be lost due to poor fleece and wool quality. The only treatment options available were smears containing tar and goose fat, tobacco stalks and […]
