To determine the number of parasitized fly pupae needed for your individual situation, you will need to take into consideration the number of animals, level of your current fly infestation, the size of your facility and the results you wish to achieve. The recommended start-up time is early in the spring after your last frost, three to four weeks prior to your normal fly season with distribution continuing every two to three weeks until the first frost of the fall. Release quantity guidelines are based on quantity of Fly Parasites needed to maintain control under average conditions. Warmer more humid conditions will likely require a greater quantity, with cooler dryer conditions possibly needing less. A larger area and/or an area with more abundant fly habitat will require a greater quantity. Good versus poor manure management will affect the quantities to a great extent also.

To establish control of an existing fly population, the normal procedure is to double or triple the guideline quantity for the first two shipments. This results in a number of Fly Parasites large enough to overwhelm the flies’ reproduction capacity until the fly population drops off. This is usually not necessary when establishing a Fly Parasite population at the beginning of the season before flies start to emerge. Fly Parasites limit the hatch of new generations of flies, but do not have any effect on the existing adult population. Therefore, we recommend the use of fly traps and baits to augment the Fly Parasites as well as using good manure management to reduce fly breeding habitat. Other livestock in the general area can produce a fly population which can migrate a substantial distance. The use of fly traps at the perimeters of your livestock area can markedly reduce this migration. Introducing your neighbors to a Fly Parasite Program can be to your benefit as well as theirs.

The flies’ ability to reproduce is influenced by many factors. At times, various conditions can cause a rise in the fly population resulting in the need to re-establish control as stated above. Release instructions are packaged in the first shipment of the season. They should be read and followed carefully. Proper distribution practices will have a substantial impact on the results you achieve. Establishing a properly managed Biological Program provides you with a sensible, long-term method of fly control

We recommend looking at the information and recommendations for all the types of animals you may have regardless of whether you intend to treat those animals due to the impact they may have on the successful implementation of your BioLOGICAL Fly Control Program.