Shoo Fly, Don’t Bother Us
House flies are notorious pests, not only in your house but also in livestock production settings where they can transmit pathogens to animals. House flies account for up to $1 billion in damage in the U.S. annually. One of the effective tools is the use of dry sugar baits that include a fast-killing insecticide. A bittering agent called denatonium benzoate is usually added to these products to deter children, pets, and livestock from accidentally consuming the bait. In recent studies there is evidence that over time, house fly populations may avoid consumption of the insecticide due to presence of the denatonium benozoate bittering agent, thus rendering control mechanisms less effective. Alternative bittering agents that protect animal species while controlling house fly populations are sought in the market.
A study conducted by ARS scientists in Gainesville, FL, along with Northern Illinois University, examined whether flies can detect denatonium benzoate at any dosage and whether alternative bitter chemicals could be used in its place. Male and female house flies detected and avoided feeding on sugar solutions containing moderate to high levels of denatonium benzoate. An assessment of two alternative bittering agents showed that flies were highly sensitive to and avoided consuming sugar solutions containing quinine, an antiparasitic compound. In contrast, scientists discovered that the house flies did not avoid sucrose octaacetate, a derivative of sucrose that tastes extremely bitter at low doses to humans and animals. This bittering agent could be an attractive alternative to denatonium benzoate in fly baits and possibly improve fly control as a result.
Publication: Behavioral response of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) to 3 bittering agents
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