Insects, mites and ticks are all too familiar to livestock and poultry producers as well as pet and companion animal owners. Pests vary from annoying to deadly.
In extreme situations, arthropod pest infestations may result in the death of the infested animal. Just like crop pests, animal pests are best managed using integrated pest management (IPM). We use a variety of feasible, effective and legal means to manage a specific pest species. The most important aspect of this system is the identification and monitoring of the pest population to develop an action threshold.
Integrated pest management methods used to control a pest may include cultural, regulatory, biological, mechanical and chemical (insecticides and/or acaricides). In addition to pests that feed directly on the animal, we are also concerned with important pests of livestock forages and livestock premises. Information in the form of factsheets, newsletters and other written material are available for the major arthropod pest species found in Arkansas.
Face flies tend to be a bigger issue for cattle producers in the northern half of Arkansas. Although this pest fly does not reach pest status every ear like the horn fly, it will be observed almost every year in north Arkansas.
A horn fly (Haematobia irritans) is about half the size of a house fly and spends most of its time on the back, head and shoulders of its host.
Black flies are very tiny, blood-sucking flies in the insect family Simuliidae. Large concentrations of these flies can cause death in animals and poultry due to blood loss, irritation, shock, and suffocation.
The Insecticide Recommendations for Arkansas (MP 144) lists insecticides labeled to control specific pest species and is divided into sections based on commodities.
Cattle
HORSES
SWINE
POULTRY
FORAGES
SHEEP AND GOATS
PETS
IMPORTED FIRE ANTS