Biological Control of Pests in Livestock Systems

Livestock systems worldwide face substantial productivity losses and animal welfare challenges due to pest insects such as stable flies, face flies and houseflies. Biological control—using living organisms or their derivatives to suppress pest populations—offers sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticides. Key strategies include deployment of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes that infect and kill fly larvae in manure, release of parasitoid wasps that develop within fly pupae, semiochemical‐based traps that exploit insect olfactory preferences, and conservation or augmentation of native predators such as beetles and mites. Integration of these techniques within an overall integrated pest management framework reduces reliance on chemicals, slows resistance development and minimises non‐target impacts. Field trials have demonstrated larval mortality rates exceeding 70 percent when combining fungal applications with parasitoid releases, while semiochemical lures have cut adult fly emergence by diverting gravid females into lethal substrates. Such approaches are broadly adaptable across climatic zones and animal production systems, offering both economic and environmental benefits.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have advanced understanding of semiochemical cues that govern oviposition site selection in stable flies. Analyses of volatile profiles from herbivore dung identified specific terpenoids that preferentially attract gravid females, enabling development of baited traps and oviposition reservoirs treated with larvicidal agents. Complementary research has elucidated genetic pathways in fly chemosensory receptors, opening avenues for precision disruption of host‐seeking behaviour. Together, these findings provide a foundation for attract‐and‐kill technologies that exploit insect chemical ecology, offering targeted suppression of pest populations with minimal non‐target effects.

Biological Control of Pests in Livestock Systems publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biological control of pests in livestock systems across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Entomopathogenic fungi: Fungal species that infect and kill insect pests, often applied as spore formulations to breeding sites.

Semiochemical: A chemical signal used by insects to communicate, exploited in traps to attract or repel target species.

Integrated pest management (IPM): A coordinated strategy combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools to manage pests sustainably.

Parasitoid: An organism, typically a wasp or fly, whose larvae develop within and consume a single host insect, leading to host death.

Vector competence: The ability of an organism to acquire, maintain and transmit a pathogen to other hosts.

References

1. A Historical Review of Management Options Used against the Stable Fly (Diptera: Muscidae). Insects (2020).
2. Filth Fly Impacts to Animal Production in the United States and Associated Research and Extension Needs. Journal of Integrated Pest Management (2021).
3. Egg-laying decisions based on olfactory cues enhance offspring fitness in Stomoxys calcitrans L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Scientific Reports (2019).
4. Face Fly (Diptera: Muscidae)—Biology, Pest Status, Current Management Prospects, and Research Needs. Journal of Integrated Pest Management (2021).