93 



installations should be considered as a primary measure by every 

 municipality, as well as the packing houses. When all possible breeding 

 places have been ehminated, there still exist some temporary breeding 

 places which must be treated for the destruction of maggots and the 

 prevention of egg-laying. Crude petroleum has been found very- 

 successful in this connection, but where the amount of material is 

 large, the oil must be used very freely and frequently. Where in- 

 cineration is not practised, the use of borax on breeding media has 

 been found satisfactory. The prompt covering of breeding materials 

 on dumps with fuller's earth, which has been discarded after use in 

 lard refining, has been found to check fly breeding, but should be 

 employed only as a supplemental or temporary measure. Since flies 

 are attracted from considerable distances by the odours produced 

 by packing establishments, the question of reducing these is important. 

 Fresh meat should be kept covered as much as possible and carcases 

 passed promptly into the coolers. Fly-traps are distinctly useful 

 against flies attracted from a distance and, while the Hodge type 

 ^^'indow trap has been found useful, it is generally better to catch 

 the flies by a bait outside the buildings. The mucous membranes 

 from pigs' intestines (a by-product of sausage-skin manufacture), 

 has proved the most attractive bait for blow-flies and also catches a 

 large percentage of house-flies. Near edible matter, where the house- 

 fly is the commonest, stale beer is a satisfactory bait. 



In wholesale markets, etc., it is important that all flies should be 

 excluded. Window- screening is useful in this connection, supple- 

 mented by blowing devices in passage-ways. In order to prevent 

 the entrance of flies through the chutes with the Uve stock, the pro- 

 vision of a considerable darkened space before the cattle enter the 

 pens has been found effective. Shipments of hams and bacon should 

 be carefully wrapped up to avoid infestation by skipper-flies, and 

 should be stored in clean, dry rooms screened with fine mesh wi.re. 

 Cockroaches give little trouble where structures are built of brick 

 and cement and cleaned with hot water or steam. In storage rooms, 

 the use of sodium fluoride is an eSicient control. 



Over 62,000,000 animals were dealt with under Government in- 

 spection during the year, while over 40,000,000 are slaughtered without 

 inspection. The first step towards mitigation of the fly trouble is to 

 secure eft'ective supervision and control over all such plants. Where 

 incineration is not feasible, prompt burial under two feet of soil after 

 the ofial has been sprinkled with borax, thorough screening of build- 

 ings, and the installation of covered drains wiU accomphsh much 

 in reduction of the fly pest. 



The Value of Economic Entomology in the War. — Jl. Econ. Entom., 

 Co7icord, N.H., x, no. 2, pp. 299-300. 



The present crisis has accentuated the need for the conservation 

 of development of aU resources, many of which, such as hfe, health 

 and food, have a close relation to apphed entomology, and there are 

 great opportunities for the economic entomologist to demonstrate 

 the utihty of his calhng. The urgent necessity for better sanitation 

 with regard to the insect problem warrants an entomological staff 

 being attached to every large camp and hospital centre to handle, with 



