CONTROL OF HOUSEHOLD INSECTS II 



The treatment of manure, described above, should be supple- 

 mented by care in preventing the accumulation about the prem- 

 ises, of decaying organic matter such as fruit, table scraps, etc. 

 Swill barrels should always be provided with tight covers and care 

 exercised that there be no leakage or an accumulation of fly-breed- 

 ing material about the barrel. The old-fashioned box privy should 

 be abolished unless it is conducted on the earth closet principle and 

 the contents kept covered with lime or dry earth, so as to prevent 

 both the breeding and infection of flies. The modern water-closet 

 and cesspool is by far the best and safest solution of this last named 

 difficulty. Such conveniences — one might well term them necessi- 

 ties — are no more costly than a long run of fever with its attendant 

 suffering and occasional death. The presence of numerous flies 

 about the dwelling may be construed as indicating a nearby, usually 

 easily eliminated, breeding place. 



It will be found in practice that some flies are very apt to exist 

 in a neighborhood even after the adoption of rigid precautions. 

 They should be kept out of houses, so far as possible, by the use of 

 window and door screens, supplemented by the employment of 

 Tanglefoot or other sticky fly paper. This, though somewhat 

 disagreeable, is much to be preferred to the use of poisonous pre- 

 parations likely to result in dead flies dropping into food. Prof. 

 C. P. Lounsbury, Government Entomologist of South Africa, sug- 

 gests, in addition to the above, putting fresh pyrethrum powder 

 upon window sills and supplementing this by the judicious use of 

 an insect net. 



The control of this pest is of great importance to the community. 

 Individual effort in this direction should be strengthened and sus- 

 tained by all officials charged with protecting the public health. 

 The Health Department of Washington, D. C. has already pro- 

 mulgated excellent ordinances against the fly pest. Similar action 

 should be taken by health officials in our municipalities and villages. 



Fruit flies 



These light brown flies, only about i of an inch long, are most 

 commonly found about the pomace of cider mills and on overripe 

 or partly decaying fruit. They are attracted by fermented liquids, 

 such as wine, cider, vinegar, beer, and may frequently be observed 

 on the sides of jars containing preserved fruits. There are two 

 species 1 which appear to be most abundant. It is very difficult 



'D r o s o p h i 1 a ampelophila Loew and D. a m o e n a Loew. 



