Flystrike – The Big Wet Makes the Risk High

Australian Wool Innovation is urging growers to be aware that the current wetter than usual conditions across many of Australia’s sheep regions are perfect for flies and consequently raising the risk of flystrike on their flock.

Dr Jane Littlejohn, AWI General Manager Research says, “Woolgrowers are reporting reduced protection levels to blowfly chemicals and it’s important they determine whether they’re seeing actual resistance to chemicals or if something other than chemical resistance may be reducing the protection period or the effectiveness of the chemical treatment on their property.

Understanding chemical resistance and the role that an integrated pest management approach plays in flystrike management is crucial to woolgrowers effectively preventing and treating flystrike during the fly season.

Recent research conducted by AWI and NSW DPI found increased resistance to some flystrike chemicals in blowfly samples, which coincides with the reports from woolgrowers of reduced protection periods. 

In response, AWI has information available to help woolgrowers monitor, prevent and treat flystrike, as well as reduce the risk and manage the impact of chemical resistance on their property”.

Access a range of resources to help

Several new and updated resources on managing chemical resistance, developed in consultation with a group of experts, are available on the AWI website, including:

• Chemical Resistance factsheets addressing how chemical resistance occurs, how to determine if chemical resistance is an issue and how to minimise its impact.
• A Guide to Flystrike Chemical Rotation
• A Flystrike Prevention and Treatment Chemical Guide that helps woolgrowers identify which flystrike chemicals are available for them to use for their specific circumstances
• Practical answers to Frequently Asked Questions from woolgrowers about chemical resistance in blowflies
• A range of standard operating procedures related to flystrike treatment, chemical application and fly control.

“Remember, if you think resistance is an issue on your property, this doesn’t mean the chemicals have totally lost effectiveness” says Dr Littlejohn. “But you may be seeing shorter periods of protection than what you previously expected. So, I encourage you to regularly monitor your sheep for flystrike, even if you have only recently treated them.”

For information to help you monitor, prevent and treat flystrike, as well as reduce the risk and manage the impact of chemical resistance on your property, visit the AWI website at www.wool.com/flystrikeresources.

Media enquiries:

Kevin Wilde
kevin.wilde@wool.com
0436 031 277