THE HOUSE FLY

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 64, 13 September 1932, Page 14

THE HOUSE FLY

CAEEIEES OF DISEASE

ADVICE TO PUBLIC

(Contributed by the Department of

Health.)

The fly .isnmdoubtocUy the commonest and most-widely spread of all insects. The house-fly, is found in nearly all parts of the world, but seldom in places where there is no human habitation. The common house fly cannot bite, but other varieties of flies such as the stable fly do and can bite, and their mouth" parts are modified accordingly. Repetition and'elaboration of statistics are tiresome, but may be. stated that •flies ■ are ■ extremely prolific. The eggs are deposited in batches in fresh horse manure, kitchen refuse, decayed vegetables, putrefying animal matter, or any other kind of organic, filth. In such substances the proper temperature, moisture, and food for fly propagation is found. .. Substances, intended for human consumption should be protected from flies, as these insects may carry the microorganisms of disease in their bodies from places where such agents abound. Flies have been implicated in the spread of diseases like typhoid fever and endemic diarrhoea, which is a serious disease hi children. ■. : METHODS OF CONTROL. In order to eradicate the fly it is necessary to do away with its breeding places, for it is obvious that the best means of avoiding troubles from flies is to prevent their appearance. This is best effected by prompt removal and destruction of all refuse that might serve as food for flies and fly : larvae. 'All' sanitary arrangements should be kept clean. Horse and cow manurs should be frequently swept up and deposited in closed or screened; manure bins properly drained. Such'manure Should be removed at least every four days, as but four days are required for thjp time the eggs are deposited until the maggots begin to migrate from the ■manure heap into the ground to continue their development into full-grown flies. It should be needless to insist that where stables, slaughterhouses, and similar places are situated in populous areas, the greatest care should be ■exercised both by the owners and by the authorities to ensure (1) the frequent and regular removal of all manner of offals, (2) the use of satisfactory covered receptacles. . ' ON THE FARM. On the farm the' problem of manure disposal is not as simple. However, about the homestead, stables, and cowsheds m'Gch can be done to deal with the fly Tiuisance. One neglected stable will furnish a plague, of flies. One method" advocated is by close packing the manure, the object being to kill house fly maggots if present. by subjecting them to the great heat produced by fermentation of the manure. For close packing, an area of hard level ground is necessary and should extend several feet each way beyond the intended dump. Each addition of manure, must be pressed down firmly with shovels and' sprinkled' slightly -with water if the weatherbe dry, t\t sides of the : heap which : must similarly be watered.and smoothed down should be somewhat sloping.. It is held that the fertilising value of manure thus treated is greater, than thai of loosely stacked manure. Another method of preventing the,, breeding of flies in •manure is of spraying with such. A solution as light tar-oil. BoTax (sodium borate) is reported to . give . satisfactory results. Borax does not appear to injure the fertilising value, of the manure if it is applied carefully and not.in excess. Sheep dip may also be used. The surface should be well .forked over during the,spraying. The sides near the base need . special care.'The. operation should be carried out daily until no larvae can ; be found. Manure may be' buried, or saturated with oil andburnr ed, that is where there is no use for it. ' . IN THE HOME, ETO. In the "home every endeavour should be'made to-kill flies by the use of fly; traps, sticky papers, etc. ' A useful solution is'to add an ouiy.e of formalin to a pint of water and milk and expose in dishes about the room. The mixture must be used with, caution and safeguarded against interference with children. Plies will rush garbage tins and it is therefore necessary that these- tins should have well fitting lids. All food, including liquid in jugs, should be protected by fly-proof covers; v;These may be either wire frames eoverecl with wire gauze or mosquito netting, or Squares of muslin" well weighted along the edges. One of the best traps for .blow flies is made by half-filling a bottle of plain glass, square shouldered is best, with a mixture containing about a tablespoonful" of honey, half 'a cup of vinegar; and about two'eupfuls of water to a: quart bottle. Where there is scrub or trees'about blowflies are sure to be troublesome"; : Such bottle may be hung in numbers .from shrubs or other support. Window troughs half filled with' water to which is added a spoonful of kerosene" or. light oil emulsion are useful. These narrow' troughs, about two inches in depth;'should be placed at the: base of/the' sheet:glass. They haye been found to' work well against gauze or perforated zinc !as in butchers' shops or pantries. Success' is reported of. a" trough;.to which' was' attached a miniature rack.such as we see in railway carriages but with the n.et made of fine wire gauze, being fitted along the walls of a large kitchen of "a restaurant. In this trough "was placed one part of formalin to eight parts of water.

In cookhouses wires from 1 foot to 3 feet long suspended from a horizontal wire or other support and coated with' tanglefoot proved quite successful in dealing -ivith flies in cookhouses and mess-rooms in- our military camps during the war. The following formulae for, .tanglefoot are given by. Professor Kirk-in his pamphlet on "Methods of Hly.:Co.ntrol..in Military Camps". (!) Hesin-8 parts;-cas.tortD.il' 4 parts; honey 1 part. ..Melt the .resin and the oil together, and all the lioney. Instead.of castor oil theje. may be used colza oil or rapeseed oil, jieatsfootoil, or any other non-drying oil. (2) Castor oil 12 parts; resin 27 parts. The mixture should be applied warm. The stock of it should be kept free from dust and should" not be heated too often. It is best to have a small, quantity .in a..tin and set this in. hoiling.water. ..when it. is ■ required ! for• use-;:. For-special purposes, particularly-' in window openings gratings of parallel wires in a w.iiulo w f ranie may be made and the winl; coated with tanglefoot. "

The time of the srear5 rear has an important bearing iipon the success of fly control. If instituted during the early spring months when the insects from which the millions of others are to be derived are few in numbers benefit will" follow, particularly if precau-tionary-measures are exercised in regard to breeding places. If .the-,energy displayed iii late season fly-killing cam paigns could ■ only" be directed into proper channels- during the early-spring months, and if people would realise that strict cleanliness and the immediate destruction of all filth and garbage are essential throughout the year the fly problem would be largely solved.