New hope for the biological control of Musca domestica L

The housefly, Musca domestica L., is a pest of medical and veterinary importance because of its nuisance value and as a vector of enteric disease microrganisms. During a screening programme designed to isolate new entomopathogenic bacteria showing activity against fly pests, a new strain of Brevibacillus laterosporus (Laubach) was collected in a soil sample from Sardinia (Italy). Morphological and genetic observations, biomolecular analysis and bacterial fractionation were carried out to identify and characterize the new B. laterosporus isolate. Lethal and sub-lethal effects were recorded in laboratory experiments on both adults and juveniles, and spores were identified as the main source of toxicity.The results of experimental treatments in cattle farms with a B. laterosporus are promising and stimulate further experimentation to fully evaluate the potential use of B. laterosporus as a biocontrol agent for housefly control.