The Control Of Blowflies Infesting Slaughter‐Houses

Abstract

Field experiments on the control of blowflies have been carried out at a large slaughter‐house which was heavily infested both by flies breeding on the premises and by those attracted from surrounding districts. The control of breeding by admixture of a larvicide with slaughter‐house refuse proved to be impracticable. Although a single treatment of the surface of refuse was ineffective, daily applications of DDT or BHC markedly reduced the degree of infestation and killed some emerging adults. The introduction of a scheme for rotational storage and collection of refuse and a general improvement in sanitary conditions, together with a daily application of 5% DDT dust to refuse and nearby vegetation, resulted in the prevention of breeding on the premises and a very considerable reduction in the adult population. Results of experimental applications are compared with those obtained in practice using unskilled labour.