|
|
Article: Wasps may help dairy operations.
- Article from:
- The Mississippi Business Journal
- Article date:
- October 16, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Dolan Media Company. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
STARKVILLE -- Researchers in three states looking at ways to battle flies in dairy farms have turned to a parasitic wasp for help.
Scott Willard, an associate professor of reproduction and environmental physiology in Mississippi State University's Animal and Dairy Science Department, said the research looks promising. The young of the pteromalid wasps feed on the developing, pupae stage of flies, killing them.
"The parasitic wasp searches fly breeding areas for fly pupae. Once found, the adult female wasp drills a hole through the fly pupae's protective casing and lays an egg on the fly pupa," Willard said. "The parasite egg hatches and the immature wasp ...