A Field Experiment with Apholate as a Chemosterilant for the Control of House Flies

Abstract

A cornmeal bait containing 0.75% of apholate was applied on a dump at Pine Island, Florida, for the control of house flies (Musca domestica L.). Applications were made once a week for 7 consecutive weeks, then five times each week for 5 weeks. The fly population decreased from 68 per grid to 5 to 20 during the first 7 weeks and remained between 0 and 3 per grid the following 5 weeks. The egg hatch ranged from 81% before treatment to 12 to 49% while applications were made once each week (7 weeks) and 2 to 26% thereafter. The male fertility decreased very little with weekly bait application but averaged only 22% when food was available at all times.