title: Effect of avermectin residues in sheep dung on mating of the Australian sheep blowfly Lucilia cuprina.
abstract: Male and female Lucilia cuprina adults were separated after emergence and then fed either dung excreted from sheep after an oral treatment with ivermectin (Ivomec) or non-treated sheep dung. Fresh dung (non-treated or ivermectin-treated) was collected daily and fed to adults for 6 days after drenching. After this feeding period, males and females from each feeding treatment were paired and all aspects of mating behaviour recorded. Feeding on avermectin residues by adults had a significant effect on two components of mating: (1) males fed on ivermectin-treated dung directed less mating attempts at females compared with males fed on non-treated dung; (2) mating duration by males fed on ivermectin-treated dung was longer compared with males fed on non-treated dung. There was no significant difference in the level of sexual receptivity (percentage mating) between females fed on either ivermectin-treated dung or non-treated dung, although subsequent oviposition by females fed ivermectin-treated dung was significantly delayed. Both female and male mortality was significantly greater when feeding on ivermectin-treated dung compared with non-treated dung. The effects on mating, when coupled with the deleterious effects on ovarian development and adult mortality, demonstrate the potential for avermectin usage in a control strategy against L. cuprina.
authors.affiliation: Western Australian Department of Agriculture, South Perth.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004175:Diptera / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D010273:Parasitic Diseases, Animal; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D007559:Ivermectin