Long Term Evaluation of Tempo 20Wp for Control of Lesser Mealworm in Poultry Houses, Wv, 1994

Tempo 20WP was applied at label rates to evaluate extended control of lesser mealworm larvae and adults in broiler-breeder houses where adult birds are maintained up to 1 yr without litter (manure) removal. Each house is 42 × 300 ft and initially stocked with 7,300 hens and 800 roosters. Tempo 20WP was applied at the “cleanout” rate of 0.1% or 19 g formulation/100 ft2 to floors and walls with a mist blower adjusted to produce a coarse spray at 1,600 psi. About 125 gal of water was used to treat each house. An outside perimeter spray of each house was applied to about 1 ft of building surface and 1 ft on the ground at the rate of 7 g formulation/1000 ft. The litter (manure) was also treated in layers as it was removed from a house and piled up for storage and later removal; the rate used was 227 g formulation in 125 gal water. Treatments were applied 3 Apr after cleaning each house with a disinfectant. For sampling, an Arends tube trap, consisting of rolled corrugated cardboard was inserted into a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe to trap (collect) larvae and adults. Traps were half buried in the litter/manure accumulation under the slat area of the house and adjacent to the scratch area. Twelve traps (2/location) were placed at 3 marked locations (6/house) about 75 ft apart along each side of the slot-scratch interface area. Traps were left in place for 2-3 d. Data are presented as mean larvae and adults/trap/day.