Dung Beetles
- Thread starter MadRanchTX
- Start date
Help Support CattleToday:
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
Yes, any of the feed through fly killers will definate kill your GOOD BUGS. Extension around here reminds producers not to use them for that reason.
Of course, people may complain about flys in NY - but trust me - we don't have a fly problem compared to you guys out west & south! (I know what it was like in Kansas - lived there for 12 years).
Of course, people may complain about flys in NY - but trust me - we don't have a fly problem compared to you guys out west & south! (I know what it was like in Kansas - lived there for 12 years).
agmantoo
Well-known member
Dung beetles could make a major contribution to reducing flies in addition to their other benefits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqU5ULMv ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqU5ULMv ... re=related
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
The entomoligist did warn us agains purchasing DB - most are area specific.
TexasBred
Well-known member
gabby":gprxrpyn said:
You may not have any dung beetles but the fly mineral didn't kill them off. Both Rabon and IGR are EPA approved, species specific and harmless to anything but flies.
upfrombottom
Well-known member
upfrombottom":m63dn2dr said:
This is a copy of the response that I have gotten so far:
XXXXXXX. I got your email. I am currently out of the office and unable to respond until early next week.
Thanks for your interest in our dung beetle project. I will send an update shortly.
Sincerely,
Tanja McKay
agmantoo
Well-known member
upfrombottom
Should the circumstances permit, when in communication with your source, would you please inquire if they know of a source where O. Gazella beetles can be purchased? Many thanks.
Should the circumstances permit, when in communication with your source, would you please inquire if they know of a source where O. Gazella beetles can be purchased? Many thanks.
farmwriter
Well-known member
I'm kinda mad with myself now that I didn't read this thread earlier - SLAM FASCINATING! Gotta love the cow boards! And I always called them rolie polies, too.
I've been waiting to see if my house was going to be overrun by tiny beetles again this year as it has every late spring/early summer since my husband and I built the house and moved in in '06. And I guess overrun is an exaggeration because I would find very few of them living - just dead ones around all the doors. New ones every morning. Didn't bother me too much, but I HATED for people to drop by and see them lying around the doors. (It's one thing for people to know I'm messy and unorganized- another thing entirely for them to think my house is nasty).
So I asked the exterminator (the man who chides me once a month for leaving the doors unlocked while I'm home alone) about them. When he came back the next month, he said they were a type of scavanger beetle (so want to spell beetle with an 'a' every time) commonly found in chicken houses, which I don't have. So guess where the bug man said they likely came from? Chicken litter. Now, the bugs didn't appear when the litter did, so his thoughts were that the litter contained eggs that didn't hatch until well after they were spread.
Well, my parents applied for and got some Equip funds, a requirement of which was testing and fertilizing according to their recommendations - which meant no litter this year. So far - no itty bitty beetles around the house. Again, I find that completely fascinating.
I'll be checking the cow patties on our place this week, too! And I never got this excited about bugs as a little one. ;-)
I've been waiting to see if my house was going to be overrun by tiny beetles again this year as it has every late spring/early summer since my husband and I built the house and moved in in '06. And I guess overrun is an exaggeration because I would find very few of them living - just dead ones around all the doors. New ones every morning. Didn't bother me too much, but I HATED for people to drop by and see them lying around the doors. (It's one thing for people to know I'm messy and unorganized- another thing entirely for them to think my house is nasty).
So I asked the exterminator (the man who chides me once a month for leaving the doors unlocked while I'm home alone) about them. When he came back the next month, he said they were a type of scavanger beetle (so want to spell beetle with an 'a' every time) commonly found in chicken houses, which I don't have. So guess where the bug man said they likely came from? Chicken litter. Now, the bugs didn't appear when the litter did, so his thoughts were that the litter contained eggs that didn't hatch until well after they were spread.
Well, my parents applied for and got some Equip funds, a requirement of which was testing and fertilizing according to their recommendations - which meant no litter this year. So far - no itty bitty beetles around the house. Again, I find that completely fascinating.
I'll be checking the cow patties on our place this week, too! And I never got this excited about bugs as a little one. ;-)
I can't beleve it but I just HAD to kick over a pattie today. We have no shortage of dung beetles or pill bugs, there were hundreds of three different kinds and some kind of white long worm(not fly larvae)
I get fascinated when we get swarmed with lady bugs they will be everywhere THICK for about a week then they are gone.
I get fascinated when we get swarmed with lady bugs they will be everywhere THICK for about a week then they are gone.
agmantoo
Well-known member
Over the last few days I located a source for O. Gazella dung beetles from a reputable source in Australia. Today I applied to the USDA for a permit to import some O. Gazella dung beetles. The application was about like trying the get a top secret clearance. The attitude with just the inquiry was that you are not going to get permission even without the person knowing what a dung beetle is. I do not have my hopes up that this will reach fruition but will post the outcome.
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
http://rinconvitova.com/catalog_fly_control.pdf
Page 12
But, I will repeat - the entomoligist advised AGAINST purchasing them because they are AREA SPECIFIC. Of course, him advising us New Yorkers not to purchase any, might be different for someone in the South.
Page 12
But, I will repeat - the entomoligist advised AGAINST purchasing them because they are AREA SPECIFIC. Of course, him advising us New Yorkers not to purchase any, might be different for someone in the South.
TexasBred
Well-known member
I wouldn't be all that concerned about having them or not having them. They are beneficial but not absolutely necessary.
agmantoo
Well-known member
I have a source that has them in stock and will ship out of Australia. The problem is the importing permission. I was told that it was unlikely that I would get permission.
The following link has informed me that they will soon have beetles in addition to the fly parasite insects they now sell. They are in the USA. http://www.rinconvitova.com/catalog_fly_control.pdf
Beneficial insects are more necessary than we realize. It is said that every 3rd bite of food we eat resulted from honey bee activity. As for dung beetles, without their being introduced to Australia around 1966, the country was overrun from flies living in cattle dung.
The following link has informed me that they will soon have beetles in addition to the fly parasite insects they now sell. They are in the USA. http://www.rinconvitova.com/catalog_fly_control.pdf
Beneficial insects are more necessary than we realize. It is said that every 3rd bite of food we eat resulted from honey bee activity. As for dung beetles, without their being introduced to Australia around 1966, the country was overrun from flies living in cattle dung.
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
agmantoo - have you blocked my postings?
I posted that web site back on Monday.
I posted that web site back on Monday.
agmantoo
Well-known member
Jeanne
Of course not! I am disappointed that you would think I would consider doing that.
Of course not! I am disappointed that you would think I would consider doing that.
agmantoo
Well-known member
The information that I posted was sourced from Kathleen A. Kidd, Ph.D., Biological Control Administrator, NC Dept. of Ag & Cons. Svcs on 20 May 2010.
I did a followup and contacted the source and received courteous professional assistance from them and then was told that my contact information would be sent to some of their contract suppliers and that I should expect to receive a followup call advising of availability.
When I receive the follow up information I will post same.
I did a followup and contacted the source and received courteous professional assistance from them and then was told that my contact information would be sent to some of their contract suppliers and that I should expect to receive a followup call advising of availability.
When I receive the follow up information I will post same.
It is hard for me to believe that at least the three most common kinds are not FOR SALE right here in the good USA...
I mean why is someone not raising them here...I use to raise meal worms to feed my lizard, SO , WHERE IS the dung bugs....
I mean you can buy LADY BUGS,
SO WHERE ARE THE DUNG BUGS............
I mean why is someone not raising them here...I use to raise meal worms to feed my lizard, SO , WHERE IS the dung bugs....
I mean you can buy LADY BUGS,
SO WHERE ARE THE DUNG BUGS............
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
DB's are for sale at the web site - just not the ones your looking for.
