Effect of ivermectin residues in sheep dung on mating of the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1993

Journal Title

Veterinary Parasitology

ISSN

ISSN: 0304-4017, eISSN: 1873-2550

Disciplines

Entomology | Sheep and Goat Science

Abstract

Male and female Lucilia cuprina adults were separated after emergence and then fed either dung excreted from sheep after an oral treatment with ivermectin (Ivomec®) or non-treated sheep dung. Fresh dung (non-treated or ivermectin-treated) was collected daily and fed to adults for 6 days after drenching. After this feeding period, males and females from each feeding treatment were paired and all aspects of mating behaviour recorded. Feeding on ivermectin residues by adults had a significant effect on two components of mating: (1) males fed on ivermectin-treated dung directed less mating attempts at females compared with males fed on non-treated dung; (2) mating duration by males fed on ivermectin-treated dung was longer compared with males fed on non-treated dung. There was no significant difference in the level of sexual receptivity (percentage mating) between females fed on either ivermectin-treated dung or non-treated dung, although subsequent oviposition by females fed ivermectin-treated dung was significantly delayed. Both female and male mortality was significantly greater when feeding on ivermectin-treated dung compared with non-treated dung. The effects on mating, when coupled with the deleterious effects on ovarian development and adult mortality, demonstrate the potential for avermectin usage in a control strategy against L. cuprina.

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Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(93)90156-H