Behavioral response of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) to 3 bittering agents.

ABSTRACT: House flies, Musca domestica L., are pests at livestock facilities. House fly numbers are controlled mainly by manure management and chemical controls, like use of toxic baits. Some toxic baits contain denatonium benzoate as a bittering agent, to avoid poisoning of children. House fly behavioral response to denatonium benzoate was examined, using 2 different diluents, sucrose solution or orange juice. Response of flies to quinine and sucrose octaacetate, 2 other bittering agents, was also examined in sucrose. Sucrose is the sweetener in commercially available toxic house fly baits. The proboscis extension response of both male and female flies was significantly reduced by addition of 1,000 ppm of denatonium benzoate to sucrose. Response in males was also reduced at 100 ppm. Consumption of

SUBMITTER: Gunathunga PB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11792078 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature