Beneficial Insect Profiles: Parasites (parasitoids)

Muscidifurax raptor

Product: A parasitoid that attacks fly puparia.

Net Contents: See contents on container.

Common Name: Fly Parasite.

Family: Pteromalidae.

Genus: Muscidifurax.

Species: zaraptor.

Origin: New York, Nebraska.

Host Pest: Houseflies and Stable Flies.

Host Area: Confined livestock, poultry, horse and other animal operations.

Life Stages Shipped: Immature parasites developing inside fly puparia, with some emerging adults.

Sex ratio: 1 Female to 1 Male.

Development: Eggs to adults requires 18 or more days depending on temperature.

Environment: (Optimum) decaying organic materials with fly larvae that are about to pupate. Keep out of direct sunlight. This species performs well over a wide range of climatic conditions.

Pesticides: Susceptible to pesticides, particularly those directed at the manure. Careful placement of pesticides will minimize harm. One tactic is to use poison baits for adult flies. Another tactic is to spray only fly resting surfaces with a long residual pesticide.

Storage: The best policy is to apply living beneficials immediately after receipt. Storage shortens beneficial insects useful life and may reduce their reproductive capacity. If immediate application is not possible, store at 500 F. with high relative humidity for a few days only.

Augmentation: Fly parasites are released to augment the beneficial populations already at work. Weekly releases of approximately 250 fly parasites per large animal from May to October. For chickens, release one parasite per 2 birds per week. Release rates vary greatly depending upon sanitation and manure management.

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