The impact of buckwheat on rates of parasitism and parasitoid diversity on a cattle facility

The house fly, Musca domestica L., is a recognized pest species and demonstrated to be a vector of multiple infectious organisms. When sanitation measures, such as manure management, fail to keep house fly populations down, pesticides are often used. Long term use of pesticides without rotation of different modes of action has been shown to lead to the evolution of pesticide resistance. Parasitoid wasps have been used as a tool in the control of house fly populations. Buckwheat flower borders have been previously tested as a means to increase rates of parasitism in pests of crops. However, buckwheat has not been examined for its potential impact on house fly populations. This research examines the rate of fly emergence, parasitism, and parasitoid diversity in areas provided buckwheat flowers compared to areas with no buckwheat flowers on a cattle facility in Northern Illinois.