2005 Annual Report 1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it (summarize project aims and objectives)? How serious is the problem? What does it matter? A national commodity group has indicated that stable flies are among the most important pests of cattle in the United States. Changes in animal husbandry over the last 20 to 30 years have resulted in increased stable fly impact on range and pasture cattle, doubling the economic impact of this pest to nearly one billion dollars per year. Although stable flies have been considered a serious pest of livestock, humans and pets for over 100 years, the biology of this insect is poorly understood and they appear to be continually adapting to changing manure and feed management practices. This project will develop fundamental knowledge on the biology of stable flies in the upper Great Plains with the primary goal of determining the sources of pestiferous stable fly populations in the pasture environment. Specific areas of investigation will include. 1)genetic characterization of stable fly populations to assist in assessing levels of migration;. 2)Identification and characterization of stable fly larval developmental sites and. 3)determination of the relative contributions of overwintering and migration to founding stable fly populations in the spring. This knowledge will form the foundation for developing integrated cultural, biological and chemical control strategies for stable flies. 2.List the milestones (indicators of progress) from your Project Plan. The milestones and outcomes for the project are: Year One (2005) Objective 1: Genetic and physical characterization of stable fly (SF)populations: · 001 Initial collections completed · 002 Microsatellite & Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers developed · 003 Complimentary DNA (cDNA) library developed Objective 2: To identify and characterize stable fly larval developmental sites and correlate larval production with adult population dynamics in relation to season, climatic variables and cultural practices: · 004 Initiate survey of potential SF breeding habitats in eastern Nebraska · 005 Qualitative sampling of larval habitats · 006 Develop quantitative sampling protocol · 007 Initiate adult sampling · 008 Conduct mark-recapture studies to evaluate local dispersal Objective 3: To determine the relative contributions of overwintering and migration to early season, colonizing, stable fly populations: · 009 Survey potential overwintering sites · 010 Initiate emergence trapping to quantify contribution of overwintering habitats · 011 Establish adult trapping grid to correlate early season flies with emergence from overwintering sites. Year Two (2006) Objective 1: · 012 Single Stranded Conformation Polymorphism (SSCP) markers developed · 013 Complete initial genetic screen of geographic SF populations · 014 Write geographic variation manuscript Objective 2: · 015 Weekly quantitative sampling of primary habitats to look at SF production, parasites and predators · 016 Analyze physical and chemical parameters of positive larval habitats · 017 Continue survey for secondary larval habitats · 018 Continue adult sampling Objective 3: · 019 Quantify physical characteristics of positive larval overwintering sites · 020 Construct artificial overwintering sites with temperature and humidity probes · 021 Continue emergence trapping at natural and artificial sites · 022 Continue seasonal adult trapping Year Three (2007) Objective 1: · 023 Initiate nuclear activation analysis · 024 Initiate screen of temporal SF populations Objective 2: · 025 Continue year 2 weekly quantitative sampling of primary habitats to look at SF production, parasites and predators · 026 Continue analysis of physical and chemical parameters of positive larval habitats · 027 Extend survey of larval habitats east and west Objective 3: · 028 Continue to quantify physical characteristics of positive larval overwintering sites · 029 Initiate laboratory studies on extending larval developmental times · 030 Initiate monitoring seasonal variation in gene frequencies. Year Four (2008) Objective 1: · 031 Initiate mass spectrometer analysis · 032 Continue genetic analysis of geographic and temporal SF populations Objective 2: · 033 Continue year 2 and 3 weekly quantitative sampling of primary habitats to look at SF production, parasites and predators · 034 Extend survey of larval habitats north and south Objective 3: · 035 Continue year 2 and 3 quantification of physical characteristics of positive larval overwintering sites · 036 Develop model of larval development under overwintering conditions · 037 Survey local seasonal SF populations for variations in chemical analysis Year Five (2009) Objective 1: · 038 Complete genetic analysis of geographic and temporal SF populations · 039 Complete physical analysis of SF populations Objective 2: · 040 Complete larval habitats studies · 041 Write manuscripts on larval developmental sites Objective 3: · 042 Model adult populations with respect to climatic variable · 043 Write manuscript on adult population model · 044 Continue survey of local seasonal SF populations for variations in chemical analysis 4a.What was the single most significant accomplishment this past year? Local dispersal of stable flies from larval habitats. Stable flies are known to be strong fliers, however, little information exists on the distance they disperse from their larval development sites. This information is essential for determining the size of the area which must be included in area wide management programs to offer significant population reduction within the control region. In a cooperative study conducted by USDA-ARS Midwest Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kansas State University, University of Minnesota and University of Nebraska, three stable fly larval sites were marked with fluorescent powder such that flies emerging from the site or those visiting the site would become marked by the powder. A grid of 87 traps covering 80 square kilometers was monitored to recapture marked flies. Over 50,000 stable flies were collected during the two week study, of which, over 3,000 were marked. Dispersal appeared to be related to proximity of hosts. Flies emerging from a site next to a feedlot dispersed a mean of 0.1 km whereas those from a larval site remote from hosts dispersed a mean of 0.9 km. These data will be used to develop control recommendations for stable flies as well as to extend research on stable fly biology. 4c.List any significant activities that support special target populations. None. 5.Describe the major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact. The research reported is conducted under National Program 104, Veterinary Medical and Urban Entomology, and directly contributes to research Component 1: Ecology and Epidemiology, Goal 1.1.2: Determine the dispersal patterns, breeding habits and host attractions of horn flies, house flies and stable flies that may be useful in devising control strategies. Research activities are further related to ARS Strategic Plan Goal 1: Enhance economic opportunites for agricultural producers; Objective 1.2: Contribute to the efficiency of agricultural production systems. This is the first year of a new project entitled “Origin, Development and Population Genetics of Stable Flies affecting Pastured and Confined Livestock.” The Midwest Livestock Insect Research Laboratory (MLIRU) is the only laboratory in the United States with stable flies as their primary responsibility and has been for over 20 years. In 1993, 1995 and again in 2001, the MLIRU published substantial reviews on stable fly biology and control. The unit is actively involved in Regional and Interstate projects on stable fly Integrated Pest Management (S-1005 and previously S-274) and has provided leadership to these projects. Stable flies have historically been considered to be primarily pests of confined animals with their larval developmental sites associated with confined animal or barnyard situations. The MLIRU developed strategies to effectively control stable flies in the confined animal environment primarily based upon sanitation. Subsequently, the MLIRU was among the first to see the transition of stable flies from barnyard to pasture pests. In collaboration with scientists from the University of Nebraska and Kansas State University, we identified the use of large round hay bales in the pastures for winter feeding as one of the primary factors in the increased pest status of stable flies in the pasture environment. Large round bale feeding sites have effectively moved the barnyard environment to the pastures. The new project will concentrate on determining the biology of stable flies in pastures to support the development of equally effective management strategies to reduce stable fly impact to livestock in pastures. 6.What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end-user (industry, farmer, other scientists)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Arrangements are currently underway to develop an extension publication on stable fly control in the urban environment in collaboration with University of Nebraska. We plan to be able to make recommendations to producers on the use and cleanup of large round bale feeding sites within the next 2 years. During FY 2004 we examined a trap currently on the market for the control of other insects and found it to be an effective stable fly trap. The manufacturer is planning to release a slightly modified version specifically for stable fly control this summer based largely upon our findings. We are currently examining the potential for stable flies to develop in fields to which manure has been applied as a fertilizer. Our previous work has indicated that fly populations increase dramatically near fields where manure has been applied, but it is not clear if they are actually developing in those fields or if the fields are acting as attractants. We intend to clarify the impact of manure incorporation on stable fly populations and make recommendations within the next 2 years. 7.List your most important publications in the popular press and presentations to organizations and articles written about your work. (NOTE: List your peer reviewed publications below). Popular Publications: Suszkiw, J. February 2005. Frozen Flies Safeguard Research, Screwworm Eradication Efforts. USDA Agricultural Research, pp. 14-15. Presentations: Dennis R. Berkebile, R. Leopold, A. Rajmohan, A. Weinhold. June 19-22, 2005. Cryopreservation of Multiple Strains of Screwworm for Storage. Oral Presentation No. 10, Commodity: Cattle (Beef and Dairy), Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Bozeman Montana. Paula A. Macedo, J.B. Campbell, P.J. Scholl. June 19-22, 2005. Effects of different temperature and humidity levels on stable fly emergence from puparia. Oral Presentation No. 10, Commodity: Cattle (Beef and Dairy), Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Bozeman, Montana. David B. Taylor. March 20-23, 2005. "Stable flies as urban pests: Impact on Recreation and Health." Oral Presentation, In Symposia: Urban Entomology Research & Extension Technology, Annual Meeting of the North Central Branch - Entomological Society of America, West LaFayette, Indiana. David B. Taylor. June 19-22, 2005. New Regional Project "Flies impacting livestock, poultry, and food safety." Oral Presentation No. 13, Commodity: Cattle (Beef and Dairy), Livestock Insect Workers Conference, Bozeman, Montana.