INTRODUCTION 



In many areas of Florida, poultry farms are located in close 

 proximity to large housing developments. House flies {I'tusaa domestiaa, 

 L.) must be effectively controlled for more than just economic reasons, 

 since poultrymen are quickly blamed when flies are found in or around 

 nearby homes. Under Florida law, Chapter 386, which regulates ex- 

 cessive fly breeding and odors, complaints by three responsible citizens 

 can result in sanitary inspections of suspect poultry farms by Health 

 and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) . Inspected farms not meeting HRS 

 standards for sanitation and fly control can eventually be closed if 

 farm owners fail to rectify discrepancies to the satisfaction of HRS and 

 the surrounding neighbors. Although not a problem for homeowners, 

 northern fowl mites, Cmithonyssus sylviavwv (C.S F.), car, be annoying 

 to farm laborers and egg processors. Mites have also been known to 

 cause decreased egg production and increased mortality in poultry 

 flocks. 



Although many compounds are available for fly and mite control, a 

 large number have been rendered ineffective due to resistance problems. 

 Slowness and indecision by the EPA have prevented the labeling of new 

 compounds and put the labels of approved compounds in jeoDardy. 



In this dissertation house fly control was evaluated by roco- 

 tilling, an in situ method for drying poultry manure. Stabilizers were 

 added to wet manure to enhance drying. Insect growth regulators (iGR's) 

 were tested in poultry feed and water as oral larvicides. IGR's were 

 also evaluated when applied topically to poultrv manure. 



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