Flytraps and Their Ope ration. 13 



flies to enter beneath the tent. Bait may be placed under the tent to 

 attract the flies. 



It has been found that the use of these window traps Avill aid in 

 protecting animals in barns from stable flies and moscpiitoes, and in 

 some cases horseflies and other noxious species are cauirht. They tend 

 to exclude the light, however, and are somewdiat cumbersome, es- 

 pecially in thin-walled buildings. 



TRAPPING THE SCREW-WORM FLY.^ 



Recent efforts to reduce the loss to the live-stock industry of the 

 Southwest resulting from the ravages of the screw-worm have di- 

 rected attention to the employment of flytraps in this work. 



Mention has been made of the importance of preventing the breed- 

 ing of flies as a prerequisite to effective control. This is equally true 

 of the screw-worm and other blowflies, wdiich attack animals, and of 

 the house fly. In the case of these blowflies main dependence must 

 be placed on the complete and prompt burning of all carcasses and 

 animal refuse. 



Experiments conducted in the range sections of Texas indicate 

 that traps properly baited and set are of material aid in preventing 

 screw-worm injury to live stock. It is advised that at least one trap 

 be maintained on each section of land. These should be located -pref- 

 erably near watering places and where cattle congregate, especially 

 in the so-called " hospital traps," where the screw-worm-infested 

 animals are kept for treatment. 



The conical-type traps as described are advised. The traps should 

 be set on a board platform about 2 feet square, securely fastened to a 

 tree or on a post Avhere the trap and bait will be the least disturbed 

 by stock or wild animals. 



During the latter half of one season over 100 gallons of flies, the 

 vast majority of which were screw-worm flies, were captured in 

 about 25 traps operated on a ranch in west Texas. 



The question of the baits best adapted for this species and other 

 points in regard to the operation of the traps are briefly discussed 

 under subsequent headings. 



BAITS FOR TRAPS. 



The problem of selecting the best bait for flies is an important 

 one. In choosing a bait it should be remembered that it is largely 

 the fermentation which renders the material attractive, and that 

 baits are most attractive during their most active period of fermenta- 

 tion. As has been indicated, the kind of bait used should be gov- 

 erned by the species of flies the destruction of which is desired. This 

 is most often the house fly. 



Experiments conducted indicate that a mixture of cheap cane 

 molasses (" black-strap ") and water is among the most economical 

 and effective baits for the house fly. One part of molasses is mixed 



5 Chryaomyia muceUarUi Fab. 



