Structural and Litter Pests

Abstract

Rodents and litter beetles are recognized as important structural pests in poultry houses. Most important are the house mouse, Mus musculus L., and the lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer). These pests are destructive to the fiberglass and polystyrene insulation in structural walls, causing serious losses. Rodent poisoning with brodifacoum, bromodiolone, and difenacoum is the most effective means of controlling even anticoagulant-resistant rodents. Late instar lesser mealworm larvae enter the insulation seeking a protected place to pupate. Later, the adults move into the insulation, expanding the holes and greatly increasing the damage. Increase of manure moisture is an important factor causing increased dispersion and migration into the insulation. The beetle larvae are more able to crawl up vertical pit walls constructed of wood than cinder block walls, thus allowing easier access to the insulation and causing greater damage. The insecticides chlorpyrophos, permethrin, stirofos, and carbaryl are toxic to both larvae and adults. Several new formulations of styrofoam insulation and two common types of paint applied to standard insulation were more resistant to beetle damage than untreated standard polystyrene insulation.