Control of the northern fowl mite on inanimate objects by fumigation: laboratory studies

Progress on control of northern fowl mites on caged laying hens

Recent research on methods for controlling the northern fowl mite (NFM) on caged laying hens is reviewed. On inanimate objects, NFM may be controlled by fumigation with methyl bromide, increased temperature (49 degrees C for 1 h), or decreased temperature (-20 degrees C for 5 days). dipping chickens in aqueous suspensions of carbaryl or stirofos controlled NFM for 6 weeks without exceeding current egg tolerance residues. Feeding chickens reasonable concentrations of systemic pesticides registered for use on dairy cattle in the U.S.A., registered anticoccidials, zinc bacitracin, avermectins, and diflubenzuron did not produce systemic control of NFM. Chickens do develop immunity to NFM. The potential for further development and adoption of these techniques should provide the poultry industry with effective alternatives to existing chemical sprays and dusts.

Control of the northern fowl mite on inanimate objects by fumigation: field studies

Field studies were conducted to determine the efficacies of methyl bromide and sulfur dioxide as fumigants for northern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), on egg flats and egg cases. Both fumigants killed the mites within 24 hr; however, sulfur dioxide had a repulsive irritating odor, which was retained in the cardboard egg flats and egg crates and persisted for several days after exposure to the gas. When used in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations for fumigating enclosed trailers and vans to control insects that attack food products, methyl bromide gave excellent control of northern fowl mites infesting inanimate materials.