ClariFly® Larvicide is a feed additive that prevents house flies, stable flies, face flies, and horn flies from developing in and emerging from the manure of livestock, where flies lay their eggs. Unlike conventional insecticides that attack the nervous system of insects through direct toxicity, ClariFly® Larvicide works by interrupting the flies’ life cycle, preventing them from maturing. When mixed into livestock feed, ClariFly® Larvicide passes through the animal’s digestive system and into the manure.
The mode of action, specific to insects, disrupts the production of a substance called chitin, which is a key component of an insect’s exoskeleton that is NOT found in mammals. Without a properly formed exoskeleton, the immature fly cannot survive to adulthood.
For maximum effectiveness, begin feeding ClariFly® Larvicide early in the spring, 30 days before flies begin to appear, and continue feeding throughout the summer and into the fall until cold weather reduces or ends fly activity. To minimize the number of overwintering pupae, feed ClariFly® Larvicide 30 days past first frost.
The actual feeding period will depend on the regional climate. Starting a program during the fly season will require the use of other fly control measures to reduce the existing adult fly populations. ClariFly® Larvicide prevents the emergence of house flies, stable flies, face flies, and horn flies from the manure of treated livestock. It has no effect on existing adult fly populations.
Your young livestock are the future of your operation, so you want to keep them peaceful and productive from the very beginning. Flies are known to carry bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli – potential livestock pathogens as well as human food-borne pathogens. Rearing areas are often identified as one of the most attractive breeding places for all flies, and the most productive development sites for house flies in particular.
Growing animals demonstrate twitching and switching when exposed to biting flies. This could result in weight loss instead of gain, during the peak of the fly season. ClariFly® Larvicide is labeled for equine and swine as well as lactating and non-lactating adult beef and dairy cows, slaughter, stocker and feeder cattle. Additives containing ClariFly® Larvicide may be fed up to slaughter for cattle and swine and to lactating dairy cows without withholding the milk from market during or after treatment.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a pest control strategy that employs an array of complementary methods: natural predators and parasites, pest-resistant varieties, cultural practices, biological controls, various physical techniques, and pesticides as a last resort. It is an ecological approach that can significantly reduce or eliminate the use of pesticides.
ClariFly® Larvicide should be used as part of an integrated pest management program aimed at reducing fly populations in the livestock’s environment. Adult house and stable flies can breed in decaying organic matter or silage. Good sanitation practices, such as cleaning up spilled feed and preventing manure build up around barns and fences or under feed bunks, will help eliminate breeding sites for these flies.
Adult flies can also migrate from other areas. In these situations supplemental fly control measures may be needed in and around barns, calf pens, and dry lots. On-animal and premise insecticide applications and/or the use of traps and baits may be necessary to control these migrating adult flies. Visit StarbarProducts.com for more information.
Central Life Sciences offers a reference tool for those seeking more information on how to control flies in the dairy, swine, beef feedlot, equine, and beef pasture industries. The site offers additional reading on how to help protect each individual industry from the dangerous effects of flies.