Week 3 - Day 13 - Flies
ESSENTIAL READING BEFORE COMMENCEMENT OF COURSE:
Urban
Pest Management in Australia: 2004
Edition, UNSW Press, Sydney
by
J Gerozisis and P Hadlington
- Chapter 11 - Pages 118 to 123.
Chapter 11 – Household Pests - flies - structure - life cycle - habits - why flies are considered pests - important pest flies - house fly - bush fly - lesser house fly - blowflies - vinegar flies - moth flies - stable fly - cheese skipper - flesh flies - biting midges - fly control - non-chemical methods of control - chemical methods of control - larvicides - fly repellents - adult fly control - surface sprays - space sprays - baiting
Pest status:
The insects most associated with the spread of disease in
domestic, commercial and industrial premises are those that
fly.
There are many thousands of species. Relatively few interact
with humans but those that do are amongst the most destructive,
spreading diseases to man and domesticated animals as well
as contaminating food and packaging.
Pest Species:
Fruit flies (Drosophila
spp)
Mushroom flies (Sciara
spp)
Scuttle flies (F.
Phoridae)
House flies (Musca
domestica)
Lesser houseflies (Fannia
canicularis)
Blowflies (Calliphora
spp)
Cluster flies (Pollenia
rudis)
Flesh flies (Sarcophaga
carnaria)
Biting midges (Culicoides
spp)
Non biting midges (Chironomus
spp)
Moth Flies (F.
Psychodidae)
Identification techniques:
Insect |
Identifying
Characteristics |
Preferred
Host material |
Adult
Occurrence |
Life Cycle |
Management
Chemical |
Management
Other |
House fly |
4-8mm dull
grey with 4 stripes on thorax |
Animal waste, garbage, and
other decaying matter |
Most abundant
late summer |
7-14 Days |
Residual
and contact sprays, baits and larvicides |
Sanitation,
exclusion, habitat destruction |
Flesh fly |
2 to 3 times
larger than house fly grey and black checkerboard pattern
on the abdomen |
Garbage,
manure, and animal carcasses |
Common in
warm months |
2-4 weeks |
Residual
and contact sprays and larvicides |
Sanitation
and habitat destruction |
Blow fly |
About twice
as large as a house fly, metallic blue or green in
colour |
Animal carcasses
garbage and manure |
Spring and
summer |
2-4 weeks |
Residual
and contact sprays and larvicides |
Sanitation
and habitat destruction |
Fruit fly |
2.5-4mm
long, yellowish brown, hover around ripe or decaying
fruits |
Decaying
fruits and vegetables garbage |
Most abundant
in; late summer and early fall |
1-2 weeks |
Residual
and contact sprays |
Sanitation
and habitat destruction |
Phorid fly |
Look like fruit fly but
with a hump back |
Decaying vegetation & animal
matter |
Most abundant in warmer
months |
1-2 weeks |
Residual
and contact sprays |
Sanitation
and habitat destruction & moisture control |
Moth fly |
2-4mm long body and wings
densely covered with long hairs |
Decaying organic matter,
especially organic matter especially around drains
and sewers |
More common in warmer months |
2-3 months |
Residual
and contact sprays |
Sanitation
and habitat destruction & moisture control |
Flies that attack Humans
Pest |
Damaging stage |
Preferred hosts |
Public health Importance |
Management
Chemical |
Management
Other |
Biting midges |
Adult midge |
Warm blooded vertebrates |
Irritating bites |
Residual and contact sprays,
repellents |
Habitat destruction |
Black fly |
Adult fly |
Domestic animals |
Irritating bites |
Residual and contact sprays,
repellents |
Habitat destruction |
Stable fly |
Adult fly |
Domestic animals |
Irritating bites |
Residual and contact sprays,
repellents |
Habitat destruction |
Chemical control:
While the use of pesticides is usually not the best
means of managing fly problems, sometimes-chemical control
can be a valuable component of an integrated fly management
program. Pesticide-releasing fly strips can be placed in
attics and smaller, unoccupied enclosed rooms where
flies are a problem. Contact (non-residual) pesticides
labelled for fly control can be applied as a space treatment
(“fogged”) to kill adult flies. This type of
control provides only temporary relief, however, and cannot
be relied upon to eliminate the problem. Residual pesticides – those
that remain active for some time – can be applied to outdoor surfaces
where flies rest, such as the outside surfaces of barns,
stables, restaurants and houses. Some pesticide bait formulations
are also available for outdoor fly control, including use
around dumpsters.
Physical controls: exclusion
Another important step in fly
management is to exclude them from the premises. This is
done by keeping doors, windows and vents closed as much is
practical, and by screening and sealing around these and
other fly entry points. Automatic door closing devices and
air curtains that blow air away from doorways also can be
installed to supplement an integrated fly management program.
Cultural
controls: sanitation, housekeeping
The key to managing all filth flies is sanitation.
Eliminating fly breeding sites, i.e., the material to which
they are attracted to and on which they lay eggs, is usually
sufficient to eliminate and prevent fly infestations. Conversely,
without thorough sanitation, other control methods are largely
ineffective. Therefore, trash should be kept in sealed containers
(in trash bags and/or cans with tight-fitting lids). Dumpsters
should be kept as clean as possible, emptied regularly and
kept as far away from buildings as is practical. Manure and
other decaying plant and animal material should be promptly
removed. Also, eliminate areas of excessive moisture.
Just as sanitation is the key to successful filth fly management, inspection is
the key to sanitation. To eliminate fly breeding sites, one
must first locate the attracting material. Often this can
only be accomplished by conducting a thorough inspection
of the premises, and by knowing what to look for and where
to look. First, identify the flies involved, inspect for
material that attracts that species and then eliminate the
material.
Other pest control strategies:
In addition to fly swatting, mechanical fly control includes
trapping. Sticky fly paper is one type of fly trap. Ultraviolet
light traps are another, often used to supplement fly control
in commercial buildings. To be effective light traps must
be properly placed. This type of trap should be placed where
it cannot be seen from outside the building, no more than
5 feet above the floor (where most flies fly), and away from
competing light sources and food preparation areas. Bulbs
should be changed at least once per year.
Useful website links:
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