1899] CHEESE AND BACON FLY. 17 



Continuing the observations of Cheese Fly habits and prevention. 

 On June 14th I was favoured by the following notes from Mr. D. E. 

 Byrd, of Spurstow Hall, Tarporley, Cheshire : — 



" Of course prevention is better than cure, and that, we carry out 

 by keeping the Cheese-room as dark as possible. Of late years we 

 have put calico caps on the Cheese, as well as the binders, which 

 effectually keep all flies, beetles, &c., from the Cheese; but, should 

 any Cheese be affected, flour and pepper is put in the affected part, 

 which will probably kill the maggot, and the crack can be filled with 

 soft Cheese."— (D. E. B.) 



In a subsequent letter (on June 23rd) Mr. Byrd mentioned ; " One 

 of our leading Cheese makers always uses quick-lime as a cure for the 

 maggot in Cheese." 



The following observations from a leading cream Cheese maker in the 

 United States, quoted from ' Insect Life,' vol. vi., previously referred 

 to, draw attention to treatment requisite to prevent entrance of the 

 flies through open windows, and measures for catching such as may 

 be found present : — 



" We are always somewhat troubled with the Cheese Flies in 

 summer. To keep them out of our storerooms we cover the windows 

 with light domestic, as they will go through the ordinary wire-screen ; 

 but, as there will always be more or less of them in the rooms, we have 

 the brown fly-paper in water always on hand, which keeps them pretty 

 well in check." 



Another note immediately following from a large Cheese manufac- 

 turer mentions that he " depends mainly upon fine screens to keep out 

 the fly, and also darkens his storerooms ; has each Cheese rubbed hard 

 each morning ; uses no chemicals but a Cheese grease that contains 

 some rosin which gives a hard coating." 



Prevention and Eemedies. — The various observations show that, 

 where the infestation is neglected, the fly multiplies enormously, 

 and the losses from maggot attack whether to Cheese or Bacon are 

 great, but that preventive treatment reduces these losses to an im- 

 material amount. In the preceding pages the notes of treatment 

 are given, together with those of the habits of the pest sent accom- 

 panying ; but for convenience of reference I give below the methods 

 of prevention advised, classed under headings, and as shortly as 

 possible. 



Prevention of fly presence. — To prevent fly entrance, it is recom- 

 mended to exclude this P. casei by screening all doors and windows by 

 a twenty-four to the inch wire mesh. If the mesh of the wire-screen 

 is not small enough to keep them out, then similar use of light thin 

 cloth is advised ; this of course to be so fixed that the flies may not 



o 



