UUDISED

GOOD PROJECT EXAMPLE: Developing Biological and Technical Solutions for Decreasing the Abundance of Blood-sucking Insects around the Grazing Cattle

The problem to be solved

The aim of the project is to identify the species composition and relative abundance of Culicoides biting midges of spring activity in the area. This information is the subject of the research, which enables to develop biological and/or technical repellents. Indicator: commented list of the species of biting midges with the activity period in spring and summer in the grazing area. Agricultural cattle attract blood-feeding insects. On intensively cultivated pastures, it might be more complicated for the cattle to find posts for rubbing and places to hide from the attacks of insects.

The order Diptera includes Tabanidae horse flies, Simulium black flies, Culicoides nubeculosus and Culicoides biting midges, which are the main disturbers for the cattle. Their attacks affect the health, growth rate and productivity of the cattle. In particular, the cattle kept outdoors have frequent contact with blood-feeding insects. Thus, it is important to understand the local insect fauna to be able to protect the cattle kept outdoors effectively and cost-efficiently. 

“Two-winged blood-sucking imagos differ from each other in terms of the habitat, flight distance, period of activity, host animal and even the preference of biting sites. Therefore, it is necessary to find out which families, genera and species disturb the cattle the most, to be able to provide better protection for the organic cattle.” Airi Külvet, a board member of NGO Liivimaa Lihaveis

Project outcomes

The results demonstrated that in June and August (in the trapping points of intensive grazing areas) the number of Culicoides nubeculosus was 27,49 times higher, the number of Simulium blackflies 4,78 times and the number of Culicoides biting midges 3,38 times higher on average when compared to the trapping points of extensive grazing areas.

The cattle kept on intensively cultivated agricultural land have fewer options for alleviating the stress caused by blood-sucking insects. Therefore, during the insects’ activity period, it would be better for the cattle to stay in larger yards to be able to find shelter under big trees and in a landscape open to winds.

Support	Innovation Cluster (submeasure 16.0 of the ERDP 2014– 2020)
Beneficiary	NGO Liivimaa Lihaveis
Contact	Airi Külvet
Prject period	March 2017 – December 2020