The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will host international renowned stable fly expert David Taylor next month to share his knowledge on the management of the pest.
Dr Taylor, a research entomologist at the US Department of Agriculture in Lincoln, Nebraska, is regarded as a world authority on stable fly and its impacts on livestock.
He has been working on stable fly research since 1994 and will speak to a number of industry and community groups, as well as department staff, on his experiences and the challenges of managing the pest.
Dr Taylor will work closely with department entomologist David Cook.
Department development officer Don Telfer said Dr Taylor’s visit was timely to remind producers to have a plan in place to manager stable fly this spring.
“Stable fly is a declared pest in Western Australia and can be a serious pest of livestock around animal enclosures, stables, feedlots and paddocks or pastures from spring through to late autumn,” Mr Telfer said.
“As the spring weather warms up producers are reminded to properly dispose of material ideal for stable fly to lay eggs in such as rotting vegetable crop residues, animal manures, spilled and wet grain feed and rotting hay.
“Stable fly are a community problem and all members of the community can make a difference.”
Dr Taylor will be in Western Australia from the 30 October to 13 November. The visit has been supported by the department, WA Broiler Growers Association and Shire of GinGin.
He will meet with a number of groups including the Stable Fly Action Group, WA Broiler Growers Association, as well as cattle producers.
Further information on stable fly management is available on the department’s websitesearching for ‘stable fly’.