Answer
May 31, 2022 - 02:07 PM
The species contained in Fly Predators (Muscidifurax zaraptor, Muscidifurax raptorellus, and Spalangia endius or Spalangia cameroni) are endemic species in North America. However, like in other predator/prey cycles, nature balances itself to always have an abundance of prey to sustain the predators that are there. Because of this, when not actively forced to stay above natural levels, populations quickly balance themselves out again. Our program is considered Augmentative Biological Control, because we are adding to naturally existing populations. Whether the Fly Predators are raised in the insectary or in the wild, they are all capable of reproduction; however, when fly populations start to drop, the parasitoids will begin actively leaving some fly pupae to ensure the next generation of their own offspring won’t starve. It’s one of the ways nature keeps everything in balance. Nature happy fly control doesn’t quite match up with human happy fly control though, so we use the augmentative releases to force the predator population to remain high, even as fly numbers begin to drop.
