Control of the Southern Cattle Tick with Insecticide-Impregnated Ear Tags12

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Abstract
The following insecticides were used to impregnate ear tags and were evaluated in laboratory trials on cattle for control of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini): 15% AI stirofos; 8% AI fenvalerate; and 3% AI decamethrin. Fenvalerate produced the highest reduction (87%) in number of engorged females developing from larvae placed on cattle at 8, 10, and 12 days posttreatment; stirofos; and decamethrin produced slightly less reduction. However, when slow-release effectiveness was determined by infesting cattle with larvae at 72, 74, and 76 days posttreatment, tags with aged decamethrin were 14% more effective than fresh tags (93%); the other aged compounds showed only slight increases in effectiveness. Apparently, aged ear tags maintained their activity against B. microplus, especially those treated with decamethrin. The ear tags had little effect on the ovipositional success and hatch of eggs of replete females. The insecticide-impregnated ear tags do possess potential as a tool to control this species.