The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-04-22
EXPERTS DEVISE
SIMPLE FLY TRAP
Will Practically Prevent
Breeding Says Dept.
Agriculture.

WASHINGTON. April pa mag
got trap which Will practically pre-
vent the breeding OF the house fly is
described in a new bulletin OF the
United States department OF agricul-
ture. No. 200. "A Maggot Trap in
Practical Use: An Experiment in the
House-iy Control" The investigators
who carried on this experiment at the
MARYLAND Agricultural College declare
that during August and September at
least IS per cent of the larvae breed
ing IN the manure were destroyed. and
although the trap was not so efficient
when the weather became colder, even
then i greatly reduced the number
of flies
The principle or the trap is sim
pie. it IS easy to, construct and the
expense is said to be probably less
in the long run than the investment
which many farmers now make in
screens for their dwellings. and sprays
ard fy-nets for their livestock. IN
It's toughest outlines the trap consists
OF concrete basin with a latticed
wooden platform erected upon it to
hold the manure. The basin Is con-
nectcd by a drain pipe with small
concrete cistern. The bottom OF the
basin is filed with water into which
the maggots breeding in the manure
drop. as they are about TO turn in the
pupa or chrysalis stage, and are
drowned. At frequent intervals the
watar is run off into the cistern and
1t Is then pumped back on the manure
pile. In this way all the liquid manure
is saved.
The successful operation OF this
trap rests upon several facts con-
nected with The habits OF the house
fly. which have been thoroughly estah-
l!shcd by observation. The adult fly
lays its eggs in fresh manure. There
they remain until the larva stage is al
most over and the insects are about to
enter the pupa or chrysalis stage. At
/ this time a pronounced tendency to
migrate is evident. In consequence
4 If the manure Is placed upon a plat
! form with q latticework bottom the
larvae, while migrating, will fall
4 through these openings into the water
i'll the basin below. IN the case OF the
experiments at the Maryland Agricul-
tural College a careful count showed
| that between July 25 and October 1,
10000 larvae were killed in this way.
/ This, however, does not include the
number that were picked UP from the
| basin by sparrows or poultry. Alto
BeIner II Is estimated tnat during the
warm weather the efficiency OF the
trap was probably 90 per cent. Later
when the temperature was lower. the
| traps success was not so marked.
This was accounted for by the fact
that when the air Is much colder than
the manure heap the larvae will not
attempt to leave the heap and there
| fore will not fall into the basin.
Another difficulty experienced arose
from mosquitoes using the water in
the basin and the cistern to breed in.
This was overcome by cleaning out
/ the basin at regular intervals and by
sprlnkling little oil over the surface
OF the water in the cistern.
Properly constructed, such a trap
offers no obstacles 10 the convenient
and economical handling OF manure.
] 1t is essential, however. that each
days addition to the heap should be
sprinkled with sufficient water to
keep the manure moist but not enough
to cause teaching. The details of the
construction OF the tray are contained
in the bulletin already mentioned.
| This particular trap was designed to
hold the manure produced by three
horses for three months, but there Is
no reason why larger quantities should
not be treated in the same way. by
building larger traps or by building
| several of smaller size.