A Field Experiment in the Control of House Flies with Chemosterilant Baits

Abstract

Cornmeal baits containing 0.5% of aplioxide (tris(l-aziridinyl) phosphine oxide), a chemosterilant, were applied on an isolated refuse dump in the Florida Keys for the control of house flies (Husca domestica. L.). Applications were made each week for 9 consecutive weeks, except during the second week. House fly populations were reduced from 47 per grid to 0 within 4 weeks, the proportion of egg masses (from females collected at the dump) containing at least 1 viable egg was reduced from 100% to 10% within 4 weeks, and the per cent hatch among all eggs laid was reduced to 1% within 5 weeks.