Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-10
HERMAN HORNiG
On Control Of Annoying Insects

DHILADELPHIA this summer is suffer-
ing from more than usually severe
invasion of annoying insects. the control of
which is quite possible with ordinary
means, according to Herman Hornig. city
entomologst in the Department Of Public
Health.
'To begin with, the most common OF the
domestic insects said Mr.. Hornig, rs
the fly. There are more flies this year than
there were last. To fight the fly success
fully it is necessary to strike at the breed
ing places. 1t is of little use to try to
kill the flies singly and leave the breeding
places unmolestcd.
Files breed most largely around stables
and uncovered garbage pals. Most OF the
stables in the city are now kept clean put
only Il few Of them are actively conducting
fly control. thorough cieahihs Oh tne
stable manure pits is one of the first essen
tials of fly control, and this Is not always
done with the thoroughness which should be
used to make 1t effective in the cxternilha
ton of the breeding places. Lime should
also be used and fly traps set lhere are
many excellent fly traps on the market, OF
very effective ones can be made ut nome
The Uncovered Garbage Pail
but in this respect the householder can
helm nightly by keeping the garbage pals
closely covered and by keeping the premises
thoroughly clean. Cleanliness is the first
rule of insect control. The uncovered gar
hinge Dal offers the most fertile breeding
place around house, and as long as house
holders persist in keeping uncleaniy condi,
tions around house, that long there VIII
be disease carrying flies, If you do not
want flies. see that the garbage pail Is closely
covered all of the time.
but in spite of the fact that there are
undoubtedly more flies this summer than
there were last, there are now, as who!e,
only a small proportion of the number OF
flies when compared with the number which
infested the country in the summer ten or
twelve years ago. 49,,
'"rhere are two chief reasons for this
condition. One of these is especially appll-
cable TO Philadelphia and lies in the elimi-
nation of the pggeries. which was accom-
nlished in the early part Of the admnistra.
lion of DIR. Furbush Flies were carried all
over the city, especially by the garbage
wagons. which brought garbage to the pig
geries and frequently took back with them
into the residential parts OF the city vast
number of flies.
'"The other reason Is the tremendous in
creose in the number of motor vehicles and
the consequently smaller number of horses
which are being used in the city. The
stables in which they were kept furnished
ideal breeding places for the flies, from which
thew were distributed by various means all
over the city. With the passing of n great
number of stables came automatically the
passng of the breeding places of millions
of flies each year.
The Pest OF FIcas
"This year the flea pest is the worst :;
ot lcast IL we can judge by the number OF
complaints sent to the Office Of the city ento-
mologist. On account of the large number
of domestic animals kept in the city, these
insects multiply locally in great numbers
from June to September
'Fleas nearly always breed in the cellar
Of n house, and therefore to control them
II is necessary to wipe out the breeding
places. They especially like sawdust as a
breeding spot and a pile of this in the
| cellar will nearly always reveal many Heas,
! which will rapidly increase as the hot
| weather comes on. They will also breed in
floor dust, such as gathers under rug or a
| carpet.
| ITO eradicate the cellar Of heas, a half
| hucketful of warm or hot water should be
taken and a fair amount Of naphtha soap
shaved and dropped into 1t. Then add half
| gallon of ordinary kerosene Oil and stir
| the mixture thoroughly. Next. take an old
cloth or mop and thoroughly wet the cellar
| floor taking care not to miss an inch of II
| 1t must not be scrubbed, only Thoroughly
| wet down. 1T Is not necessary to wet the
walls, as all the fieas win be found ON the
! floor. Before doing this It Is well to wet wet