Scientific Literature
At Spalding Labs, we’re passionate about helping animal owners protect the health, comfort, and productivity of their livestock and horses with natural, effective fly control solutions. Our approach is grounded in science, and we are proud to rely on decades of peer-reviewed research to guide our work. Below, you’ll find a curated list of scientific literature that supports the use of parasitoid wasps in biological fly control. These studies form the foundation of our program and reflect our commitment to providing environmentally responsible, research-backed solutions for your operation.
Birkemoe, T., Soleng, A., Aak, A. 2008. Biological control of Musca domestica and Stomoxys calcitrans by mass releases of the parasitoid Spalangia cameroni on two Norwegian pig farms. BioControl 54(3): 425–436.
Geden, C. J. 2002. Effect of habitat depth on host location by five species of parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae, Chalcididae) of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in three types of substrates. Environmental Entomology 31: 411–417. https://doi.org/10.1603/0046-225X-31.2.411
Geden, C. J. 2005. Biological control of pests in livestock production. DIAS Report No. 119: 45–60.
Geden, C. J., Hogsette, J. A. 2006. Suppression of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in Florida poultry houses by sustained releases of Muscidifurax raptorellus and Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Environmental Entomology 35(1): 75–82.
Geden, C. H., Biale, E., Chiel, D., Johnson, D. 2019. Effect of fluctuating high temperatures on house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) and their principal parasitoids (Muscidifurax spp. and Spalangia spp. [Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae]) from the United States. Journal of Medical Entomology 56(6): 1650–1660. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjz080
Geden, C. J., Rutz, D. A., Miller, R. W., Steinkraus, D. C. 1992. Suppression of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) on New York and Maryland dairies using releases of Muscidifurax raptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) in an integrated management program. Environmental Entomology 21(6): 1419–1426.
Johnson, D., Rizzo, E., Taylor, C., Geden, C. 2017. Effect of host decoys on the ability of the parasitoids Muscidifurax raptor and Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to parasitize house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) puparia. Florida Entomologist 100(2): 444–448. https://journals.flvc.org/flaent/article/view/90537
Kaufman, P. E., Long, S. J., Rutz, D. A. 2001. Impact of exposure length and pupal source on Muscidifurax raptorellus and Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) parasitism in a New York poultry facility. Journal of Economic Entomology 94: 998–1003.
Machtinger, E. T., Geden, C. J. 2018. Biological control with parasitoids. In: Pests and vector-borne diseases in the livestock industry. Wageningen Academic, Leiden, The Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-863-6_11
Machtinger, E., Gerry, A., Murillo, A., Talley, J. 2021. Filth fly impacts to animal production in the United States and associated research and extension needs. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 12(1): 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmab026
Malik, A., Singh, N., Satya, S. 2007. House fly (Musca domestica): A review of control strategies for a challenging pest. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B 42(4): 453–469.
McKay, T., Galloway, T. D. 1999. Survey and release of parasitoids (Hymenoptera) attacking house and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in dairy operations. The Canadian Entomologist 131(6): 743–756.
Morgan, P. B., Patterson, R. S. 1977. Sustained releases of Spalangia endius to parasitize field populations of three species of filth breeding flies. Journal of Economic Entomology 70(4): 450–452.
Morgan, P. B., Weidhaas, D. E., Patterson, R. S. 1981. Host–parasite relationship: Augmentative releases of Spalangia endius Walker used in conjunction with population modeling to suppress field populations of Musca domestica L. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae and Diptera: Muscidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 54(3): 496–504.
Nachman, G., Skovgård, H. 2020. Modeling the influence of ambient temperature on the interactions between the stable fly (Diptera: Muscidae) and its natural enemy Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to assess consequences of climate change. Environmental Entomology 49(2): 342–354. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32078684/
Petersen, J. J., Cawthra, J. K. 1995. Release of a gregarious Muscidifurax species (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) for the control of filth flies associated with confined beef cattle. Biological Control 5(2): 279–284.
Rueda, L. M., Axtell, R. C. 1985. Comparison of hymenopterous parasites of house fly Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), pupae in different livestock and poultry production systems. Environmental Entomology 14(3): 217–222.
Skovgård, H. 2005. The pupal parasitoid, Spalangia cameroni, as biocontrol agent of house flies and stable flies on confined Danish dairy cattle farms. Biological control of pests in livestock production. DIAS Report No. 119: 63–70.
Skovgård, H. 2006. Search efficiency of Spalangia cameroni and Muscidifurax raptor on Musca domestica pupae in dairy cattle farms in Denmark. BioControl 51(1): 49–64.
Skovgård, H., Nachman, G. 2004. Biological control of house flies Musca domestica and stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans (Diptera: Muscidae) by means of inundative releases of Spalangia cameroni (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 94(6): 555–567. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15541194/
Taylor, D., Moon, R., Mark, D. 2012. Economic impact of stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae) on dairy and beef cattle production. Journal of Medical Entomology 49(1): 198–209. https://doi.org/10.1603/ME10050
Weinzierl, R. A., Jones, C. J. 1998. Releases of Spalangia nigroaenea and Muscidifurax zaraptor (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) increase rates of parasitism and total mortality of stable and house fly (Diptera: Muscidae) pupae in Illinois cattle feedlots. Journal of Economic Entomology 91(5): 1114–1121.
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