The development of insecticide resistance allows individual insects to survive an exposure to insecticide that would kill individuals from a ‘normal’ population.
The sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina has developed resistance to at least three classes of insecticides that have been used to treat or prevent flystrike on sheep.
There are a number of management strategies that sheep producers can adopt to minimise the development of resistance or at least delay the onset of resistance. Resistance management strategies >> Read more.
As with all chemical treatments, follow the label directions and keep a record of the product (including batch number), dose rate, date of treatment and mob treated, for future reference.
Report adverse outcomes (product failures) to the company and to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Products Authority (APVMA).
For detailed information on resistance in sheep blowfly larvae download the following document.
If you believe your population of flies is showing resistance to the chemicals you use, you can have a resistance test carried out.
NSW DPI are now conducting laboratory tests to determine the presence of resistance to various chemicals.
You will need to supply a large sample of live, healthy Lucilia cuprina maggots to the laboratory.