Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-25

Traps and poisons as effective means
of abat.ng or controlling the fly nui-
sance are discussed in bulletin just
issued by the United States Department
of Agriculture
The use of formaldehyde, which has
been recommended by Dr. Murray, SUI
pervisor of The Stars anti-fy educa-
tional campaign. is Endorsed by the
Agricultural Department as a means
of killing the pests. Householders and
others who employ the method. how
ever. should be careful to see that the
poison is kept out of the reach of chill
dren.
maldehyde as an insect destroyer. the
bulletin says:
''R. l. Smith of the North Carolina
station found that l ounce e. table
spoonfuls) of formalin 90 per cent
formaldehyde) in IL ounces Il pint of
mixture of equal parts of milk and
water in shallow dishes. with a piece OF
light on. proves very attractive and
destructive to the flies. especially when
placed on the front and back porches
of houses. 1t is less effective when
used inside the house. although the
method was used with good results in
Kidding diaries of flies.
'E. E. Green of Celon has used the
following method with success: Fill a
soup plate with damp sand, cover with
disk of blotting paper. spread sugar
with mixture. of l part of formalin
90 per cent formaldehyde) with p
parts of water
New Types of Traps.
New types of fly traps are discussed
in the bulletin as follows:
Various forms of fly traps have been
used with good results. F. L. Wash
burn of the Minnesota station describes
an efficient and easily constructed form
Of trap. as follows:
The trap is twenty-four inches long,
twelve inches high and eight inches wide.
The upper part. which may be oval or
rectangular as preferred. serves as a re-
ceptacle which the flies enter through
the opening in the top of the middle
portion made Of ordinary mosquito
wire screen and shaped, like the roof
of house. Under this is the base
board upon which rest two tin bait
pans. The space between the base
board and the middle portion is about
one-half inch, and between this and
the bait pans through which flies enter
pans, about one-fourth of an inch.
Stale meat. bread and milk are used as
immersfng in hot water"
Good for Use in Diaries.
\ trap devised by c. F. Hodge. and
recommended by the Department of
Agriculture for use in windows of
dairies, stables. markets. etc, is de-
scribed as follows: "At the bottom is
an opening, about a quarter Of an
inch wide. running the length of both
sides. This opening admits the flies
to space covered py ridge or roof
of screen wire with holes large enough
for flies to go through every two
inches. Large pans of fly bait-fish
heads, poultry cleanings, brewers
waste. blood. or anything available
which is found on the premises to at
tract flies can be set on the bottom
board and thus establish a whirlwind
focus for all the flies about the place
The other essential in the construction
is the fold or folds in the screen walls
These are simply folds or open pleats
running horizontally across the trap
pointing upward and inward. The flies
in trying to get in or out Of the win
dow, collect In these folds, run back
and forth In them until they poI
through one of the holes which occur
every two inches, and they have never
been seen to find a hole on the convex
inside surface of the wrinkle and
crawl down and out again.
This trap Is built in a frame which
fits closely in window, preferably or
the best lighted side Of the building"