Dorsey, C. K.

Kidder, Harold Edward

English

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West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry ExperimentStation BulletinsDavis College of Agriculture, Natural ResourcesAnd Design1-1-1959Cattle-grub control in West VirginiaC. K. DorseyHarold Edward KidderFollow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/wv_agricultural_and_forestry_experiment_station_bulletinsThis Bulletin is brought to you for free and open access by the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources And Design at The Research Repository@ WVU. It has been accepted for inclusion in West Virginia Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Bulletins by an authorized administrator ofThe Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact ian.harmon@mail.wvu.edu.Digital Commons CitationDorsey, C. K. and Kidder, Harold Edward, "Cattle-grub control in West Virginia" (1959). West Virginia Agricultural and ForestryExperiment Station Bulletins. 431.https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/wv_agricultural_and_forestry_experiment_station_bulletins/409Cattle-Grub Controli* W E S T VIRGINIASEPTEMBER, 1959WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITYAgricultural Experiment StationTHE AUTHORSC. K. Dorsey is Entomologist in the WestVirginia University Agricultural ExperimentStation and Professor of Entomology. H. E.Kidder is Associate Animal Husbandman inthe West Virginia LTniversity AgriculturalExperiment Station and Associate Professorof Animal Husbandry.West Virginia UniversityAgricultural Experiment StationCollege of Agriculture, Forestry, and Home EconomicsA. H. VanLandingham, DirectorMorgantownCattle-Grub Control in West Virginia1C. K. DORSEY and H. E. KIDDERINWest Virginia, as in many other areas of the country, cattle grubsHypoderma lineatum (DeVillieres) and H. bovis (L.), are seriouspests of cattle. The adult, egg-laying flies cause calves and adultanimals alike to become highly excited and nervous. During activecattle grub fly season the harassed animals often run wildly in a terri-fied manner with tails over their backs. Infested cattle frequently failto eat properly and weight gains are affected. It is a well-known factthat the damage caused by these pests to the meat and hides of infestedanimals costs the national livestock industry many millions of dollars($50-100 millions) each year (Cattle Grubs, U.S.D.A. [2]).Until the recent introduction of some of the new chemicals (organicphosphates) there was no really satisfactory control measure for cattlegrubs. Some of these organic phosphates are referred to as systemicinsecticides because they are absorbed in the circulatory system of thetreated animal and are transported to all parts of the body inhabitedby cattle grubs. These chemicals are highly lethal to the grubs, andtests by research workers in various parts of the country have indicatedthat they are effective when properly used.Since an effective control for cattle grubs is badly needed by WestVirginia farmers the new method was tested to determine its effective-ness under West Virginia conditions. Co-Ral was chosen for testing be-cause it was one of the most promising of the compounds previously testedelsewhere.Co-Ral (Bayer 21/199) is a development of the Bayer Companyof Germany and is distributed in this country by the Chemagro Cor-poration. It is an organic phosphate with the chemical name of O, O-Diethyl 0-3-chloro-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-l-benzopyran-7-yl phosphorothioate.McGregor et cd. (6) in preliminary tests found that certain phos-phorus compounds would kill cattle grubs when used systemically.Smith and Richards (10) demonstrated that selected phosphorus com-pounds would kill cattle grub larvae when applied as washes. Roth andEddy (9) tested a number of phosphorus compounds as washes andgrateful acknowledgement is made to personnel of the West Virginia Uni-versity Department of Animal Husbandry including- Charles Boyles, C. J. Cun-ningham, and Dr. G. C. Anderson for invaluable help in these studies. The co-operation of Ross, John, and Samuel Tuckwiller in this work is appreciated.In the early phases of the study, Dr. H. L. Hansen, former Assistant Entomologistin the "West Virginia University Agricultural Experiment Station gave valuableassistance.sprays and they showed that Co-Ral killed the grubs more effectivelyas a spray than other test materials. This finding was in agreementwith that of Lofgren et al. (5). Graham (4) working in South Dakota,Burns and Goodwin (3) in Louisiana and Turner and Gaines (11) inVirginia all found that Co-Ral gives good control of cattle grubs intheir respective areas. The use of Co-Ral for cattle grub control hasbeen approved by the Agricultural Research Service of the U. S. Depart-ment of Agriculture and by the Federal Food and Drug Administration.Another systemic insecticide, Trolene, (Dow ET-57), has been testedand approved in some regions for controlling cattle grubs. McGregorand Bushland (7) in Texas, Adkins (1) in Alabama, Raun and Herrick(8) in South Dakota, and Turner and Gaines (7) in Virginia are someof the workers who have found Trolene to be effective in controllingcattle grubs. Preliminary tests in West Virginia also indicate that thisinsecticide is effective, but additional experiments with this materialwill be made before making definite recommendations.Young animals are usually more susceptible to attack from cattlegrubs than adult cattle. The control experiments in West Virginia wereconsequently concerned mainly with calves 3 to 4 months of age, al-though one group of cows was included for comparative purposes. Twodifferent herds belonging to West Virginia University were used inthese tests. One was located at Morgantown and consisted of both pure-bred Angus and Herefords; the other herd, located at Wardensville,was entirely grade Herefords. The third experimental herd consistedof Herefords belonging to Ross Tuckwiller at Lewisburg.The experimental animals used in 1957 and 1958 were treated onlyonce during the year, some in early summer, and others in the fall orearly winter. A high pressure sprayer was used to apply the material(Co-Ral 0.5%) at an operating pressure of about 200 p.s.i. An attemptwas made to wet thoroughly the skin of each treated animal, particularlythe back and sides. Approximately 2 quarts of spray were applied toeach calf and 4 quarts to each cow. The animals were sprayed in asmall pen or chute arrangement to expedite the process and to minimizewastage of spray material.Actual grub counts were made during the following February bypalpating the backs of the treated and untreated animals. The effici-ency of Co-Ral spraying for control of cattle grubs in calves varied from98 to 75 per cent, with an average control of 92 per cent; the controlin cows (one herd) was 91 per cent. In addition, no lice or mites wereobserved on treated animals, whereas some of the untreated animalswere infested. Horn fly control was good on treated animals (Julytreatment) for about two weeks. The results of cattle grub control aresummarized in Table 1.The results of the two-year period of study confirms those of otherworkers in various parts of the country. It is believed that satisfactorycontrol of cattle grubs can be obtained in West Virginia either withsummer (3rd week in July) or fall (September-October) treatment.(See precautions in Table 2.) Summer treatment is preferable, however,because the infested animals will be relieved of the effects of the burrow-ing grubs early in the season and the lighter summer coat is more easilypenetrated by the spray. Table 2 summarizes the recommended measurefor grub control in West Virginia based on the experiments reportedhere.PrecautionsThe user of Co-Ral should take the same care and precautions thathe would when using other poisons. He should avoid getting thismaterial in his eyes or on the skin, and avoid breathing the dust orspray particles. If spilled on the skin it should be washed off immediatelywith soap and warm water. Wash contaminated clothing with soap andhot water before re-use.1. Adkins, T. R. 1957. Field evaluations of Dow ET-57 as a systemic insecticidefor the control of the common cattle grub in Alabama. Journ. Econ. Ent.50(4): 474.-2- U.S.D.A. Agr. Res. Service Farmers Bulletin 1596. Cattle Grubs or heel flies withsuggestions for their control 1957.3. Burns. E. C. and E. E. Goodwin, 1958. Tests with Dow ET-57 and Bayer 21/199against cattle grubs in southwest Louisiana. Journ. Econ. Ent. 51 (4): 545.4. Graham, O. H. 1958. Tests with Bayer 21/199 for the control of cattle grubs in,South Dakota. Journ. Econ. Ent. 51 (2): 359.5. Lofgien, J. A., I. H. Roberts. W. L. Brendt and K. Rasmussen. 1954. Gattle grubsand their control in South Dakota. S. Dak. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bui. 435.6. McGregor, W. S., R. D. Radeleff and R. G. Bushland. 1954. Some phosphoruscompounds as systemic insecticides against cattle grubs. Journ. Econ. Ent. 47 (3):465-467.7. McGregor, W. S. and R. C. Bushland. 1957. Tests with Dow-ET-57 against twospecies of cattle grubs. Journ. Econ. Ent. 50(3): 246.8. Raun, E. S. and J. B. Herrick. 1957. Feedlot tests of the efficacy of Dow ET-57for control of cattle grubs. Journ. Vet. Med. Assoc. 131(9): 421.9. Roth, A. R. and G. W. Eddv. 1955. Tests with some phosphorus compoundsagainst cattle grubs. Journ. Econ. Ent. 48(2): 201-202.10. Smith, Charles L. and R. Richards. 1954. New insecticides for control of thecattle grub. Journ. Econ. Ent. 47(4): 712-713.11. Turner, E. C. and J. A. Gaines. 1958. Systemic insecticides for control of cattlegrubs in Virginia. Journ. Econ. Ent. 51 (5): 582.KLTDLT3CO"c5COasLT3COc/3ad<T3ad%GrubReduction(0oo5c-.inre0|1ft — X oien(0£'E<a.(0-Q3Ca16Z<DCIreSi>1<DUre«H*->oZw5 : 'O 1Oor Of.1> ^re —°lq SOidr--02X<DrehOOOJowa;>reO-Svq so qTO£E<o£_<DSi£Z•a4)+jre4)i_1-»->o2oOoi oires.0)><to!> —re 1°l*~i Of X-a4>wre<ds_r-at3|1^Ofw<v> t-reOtoOC OJXDateSprayedXoZxm©uc1—!X 3".Ol"reoh73L.IW.Va.Univ.(Morgantown)HerefordandAngusW.Va.Univ.(Wardensville)Hereford Tuckwiller(Lewisburg)HerefordTO Co E5. HOC3asado£ reo £?M- =CQCVJas03re._C E o -C-C= WgJ2 CO (O E J-E« u >£ a•-re T5 re •- xre £ E ° 5 £^ re « - re«.* > re = 5'.2 re « c °fc w o -^ re oo^ ^ >,+, Ou re rere KS i) (/ ^ » S-i +J J-J (/) +J -J+J +J 4-1 +J +J +J000000E E E E E EOOOOOOQ Q Q Q Q Q5 £Digitized by the Internet Archivein 2010 with funding fromLyrasis Members and Sloan Foundationhttp://www.archive.org/details/cattlegrubcontro431dors

Cattle-grub control in West Virginia

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Cattle-grub control in West Virginia

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