HOUSEHOLD AND CAMP INSECTS 13 



Manure from domestic animals should be stored in pits or cellars, 

 removed, preferably at daily intervals and spread upon the fields, 

 treated with a larvicide or disposed, gf in some manner which will 

 make breeding impossible. 



The essential in the manure pit is that it be fly-proof. It may be 

 under or beside a stable and the trap or door through which the 

 manure is thrown should, if possible, be moderately dark and at the 

 other end, or above, there should be a fairly light window or fly 

 trap in order to attract insects away from the entrance. This 

 arrangement largely prevents the escape of flies whenever manure 

 is thrown in or carried away. 



The removal of manure, preferably at daily intervals in cases 

 where there is no pit or cellar, if thoroughly done, means that local 

 breeding is impossible if it be properly spread and that the con- 

 tained eggs and young maggots quickly perish from exposure. 



In Rouen heaps are made of old manure, which are dusted with 

 quicklime, covered with earth and planted with grass or other 

 seeds. A narrow gage line has also been used to convey manure to 

 a natural depression where it is covered with quicklime and earth 

 and then planted as above. 23 



Larvicides. There are several larvicides which can be used for 

 the destruction of maggots in the manure. 



Hellebore, one-half pound to 10 gallons of water, applied to 8 

 bushels of manure, is an effective larvicide and not injurious to 

 plants. 24 



Borax used at the rate of two-thirds of a pound to 10 gallons of 

 water and sprinkled over 8 bushels of manure is the least expensive 

 and the most effective larvicide. Borax has an injurious effect on 

 plant growth, and not more than 15 tons of manure treated in this 

 way should be used to an acre in order to avoid the possibility of 

 subsequent injury. 



Iron sulphate, 2 pounds dissolved in a gallon of water and used 

 at the rate of i gallon to 30 gallons of manure, will kill a very 

 large percentage of the larvae, provided the iron sulphate is care- 

 full mixed with the manure. Surface treatment is not entirely 

 satisfactory. 25 Other workers report this chemical as unsatis- 

 factory. 26 



23 Marette. Jour. Roy. Army Med. Corps, 24:359-66. 1915. 



24 Cook & Hutchison. U. S. Dep't Agr. Bui. 408. 1916. 



25 Richardson. N. J. Agr. Exp. Sta. Rep't 1914, p. 392. 1915. 



26 Cook, Hutchison & Scales. U. S. Dep't Agr. Bui. 118, p. 24. 1914. 



