HOUSEFLY CONTROL WITH DRY BAITB FORl'fULATED FROMORGANIC PHOSPHORUS INSECTICIDES AND SUGAR

by

WAYNE L-3LIE BERKDT

B. S., South Dakota State Collegeof Agriculture and Mechanic rts, 1950

A THESIS

Bubmltted in partial fulfillment of the

requirement e for the degree

MASTER OF SGIEKCE

Department of B,ntomology

K-.Kl . ..TATL COLLEGEOF iiGHlCULTUKii. mh ilPPLIED SCIEKCE

1955

LP

oL^e-wts.T^^LE OF COKTEI^TS

INTRODUCTION 1

RPVI'W OF LITERATURE ON ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS BAITS 3

M..i^raALS METHODS 4

DISCUSSION AND RESULTS 16

SUMM ARY ;KD CONCL JSIONS 28

LITtit^iTURE CITED 37

ACKNOWLEDGMfiaiTS 38

IN PRODUCTION

Poisoned baltB for cheTilcf?! control of housefllee, Muaca

domestlca L. , are not entirely new. I4ilk and fomalln baits

were In wideepread use from the turn of the centui?y until

about the beginning of World V/ar II. In 1911 » Smith reported

successful fly control In & North Carolina dsiry using milk

and formalin set out in tin p ns. He reported finding a pint

of flies on the floor of a milk cooling room after a singl*

night's baiting. Morril (191^) reported similtir results with

milk -nd formalin or arsenic. He also reported finding such

attractiints as beer, whey, sour milk, anri dried blood fertilizer.

Howard (1925) recom ended using the bait in a "fountain" made

from a water gless and a saucer. The milk-formalin mixture

was poured into a w. ter glass and then a saucer lined with a

square of blotting pf'per was inverted over the mouth of the glass.

The whole unit was then inverted and placed wherever flies

congregated; as the fluid was consumed or evcporated it was

replenished by the liquid In the glass, /mother bait was mad«

from sodium arserite, brown sugar or molcjcaes, and water.

This bait w?is used In pans or "fountains"; it was also recom-

mended for use as a surface treatment for m&nure piles. Felt

(1917) advised spraying this mixture on bunches of straw and

hanging them from the rafters of barns and houses, a fore-

runner of today's insecticide trested cords or etrips.

2

Other control methoda were also widely used, which Included

earitatlon, pyrethrum sprays, screening, lej-vlclding, and many

others. Borrnalln and arsenic baits were also widely used but

they were at times Inconvenient to uee. If pens went unattend-

ed, they soon dried and beci me useless. Pans, saucers, and con-

tainers sitting about were In constant danger of being upset and

the contents scattered. Thirsty pets or children might have

drunk some of the fluid with disastrous results.

By the end of World War II, fCT was in ample supply and

was put Into widespread use in controlling houeeflles. Resid-

ual sprcylng of buildings with DDT for housefly control was

common procedure and was so successful that at times even

sanitation practices were by-p;,Bsed when DDT could be sub-

stituted. The idea of baiting for fly control soon fell into

disuse. After a year or two it became apparent that flies were

able to develop reslstejnce or tolerance to DDT, as well as

other chlorincted Insecticides. By the end of 1953, DDT,

lindane, chlordejie, and other chlorinated insecticides were

ineffective aa chemical controls for houseflies in places where

they had been used previously, which comprised many parts of

the United states. Since houseflies were showing a rapid

Increase in resistance, research was Intensified to find new

chemicals and methods of control. Organic phosphorus Insecti-

cides were found to be effective controls, but they were also

much too toxic to be used In the unsuppressed manner that DDT

3

had been used. Since organic phospViorus Insecticides were

pood stomach poisons as well as contact poisons It was thoupht

that they might be used as baits. Very low concentrations of

insecticide with an attractant could be safely used without

undue danger to handlers and farm smimals.

REVIEW OF UTERATURE ON 0RG.4NIC PHOSPHORUS BAITS

During the fly serson of 1952, Thompson et al. (1953)

developed a method of controlling houaeflies with a liquid

bait made of 0.06 per cent tetraethylpyrophos-ohate (TEPP),

0.15 per cent lindane, and four to eight ounces of molasses

or syrup. This bait was sprinkled on floors with a garden

sprinkling can and sometimes on burlap sacks which were hxrng

on rafters. The TEPP killed large numbers of flies in a short

time, but the TEPP hyc3rolyzed in e short time and became

ineffective; so the lindane was added to lengthen the effect-

iveness of the bait. Gahan et al. (1957) found that 0.05 per

cent TEPP and 3 per cent blackstrap molasses was effective

against flies in dairies in central Florida. They also found

that lindane did not increase the effectiveness of the bait.

In 1952, Bruce (1953) developed a hardened or varnish

bait using a di-&lkyl phosphate known as Bayer LlV59» suh-

sequently called Dipterex. One and one half grams of technical

Bayer L13/59 was dissolved in sixteen ounc s of Karo syrup

which was painted on door frames, studdings, walls, window

4

frames, and window panes. It was reported that varnish balta

gave good control for as long as two months after appllciitlon.

Qahan et al. (195^) demonstrated that mal; thlon,

dlazinon, nd Bayer L13/59 were all superior to TEPP as

toxicants In housefly baits; none of these compounds hydro-

lyze rapidly so they remain effective for a longer period of

time. They also found that houseflles fed more readily on

residues left by a dried syrup bait than on liquids. Lab-

oratory tests further proved that houneflles fed more readily

on granulated sugar than on sugar water. This proved to be

a definite advantage, eliminating the necessity of keeping

baits moist. This would make It especially i "ivantageous In

drier portions of the country. Dry baits could also be spread

on absorptive surfaces and remain available to files, and

could also be spread thin enough for files to pick It up

readily but not be too easily picked up by farm animals. It

also ellraln: ted the necessity of messy containers to be

upset or constantly in the way.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fly control on the Kansas State College campus has been

the responsibility of the Department of Entomology during the

1953 and 1954 seasons. Previous to this time, certain depart-

ments had spr&yed their livestock for general livestock pest

control. The work was conducted In 1953 by a graduate student,

5

Vlrgll Bayles, who did routine residual spraying, distributed

spray materials to dining halls and dormitories, and recommended

sanitation practices where they v/ere needed. The vnrlous

departments were then aaseaeed according to the amount of

time and m. terial It took to service each department, ha flies

became more and more resist /nt to chlorinated Insecticides,

by the middle of the 1953 fly season It was neoessary to use

ether control methods. Pyrethrum was used toward the latter

part of the 1953 fly season, but this proved to be very costly

because there was relatively little residual action in

pyrethrum and it was too coetly to use contlruously on a

large scale.

Shortly before the 195^ fly season, at a meeting of

departments concerned, it was mentioned that with previous

methods it was too much of a burden on the budgets of larger

departmentc such as Animal Husbandry and Dairy Husbandry.

Dr. Herbert Knutson, Head of the department of j^ntomology

mentioned a letter from Dr. R« C. Bushland, Director of the

Entomological Research Branch Laboratories of the Department

of ilgrlculture at Kerrville, Texas. Dr. BushlsJid had inquired

whether a cooper;tlve experimental fly baiting program could

be conducted at Kansas State College. Dr. Knutson suggested

that perhaps such a program ralglit be tried as a part of the

regular campus fly control program. He pointed out that it

wouia lower the cost of the program and at thesarae time first

hana observations on a relatively new technique In housefly

6

control could be mad«. It was agreed that the DerDcrtnient of

bjitomolofy would operate the baiting experiment as a part of

the fly control program.

Early in June of 195^ » H. M. Brundrett of the

Entomological Research Branch Labor itorles at Kerrville, T0xmB$

arrived at Kansas Stste College to start the baiting studies.

Early June rains delayed the actual start of the baitiiig, and

the accompanying cool weather held the housefly popul;;tionB

fairly low. This cool wet period pave Dr. Brun'rett and the

writer, both of whom were unfamiliar with the campus, ample

time to become acquainted with the buildings and the workers

about the campus. There was also ample time to question

herdsmen and foremen about feeding and handling routines for

the farm animals in the various buildings. This prevented

the possibility of putting bait in an ; rea where animals

were fed or feed was stored. iny places v,'here animals were

handled often were noted; as It developed later, one shed

was not dry-baited simply because hogs were sorted and weighed

In an alleyway. At no time were any pens of i^ny klnJ baited

that were occupied by animals, or likely to be on short

notice. It was also necessary to know approximately when

floors might be swept off or hosed down in order for the bait

not to be swept up or washed away an hour or two . fter it had

been applied. For example, the dairy barn milking room could

not be baited at all because the floors were hosed down tv/ic*

daily and the floor remained wet throuffhout most of the day.

7

The toxic ingredients In the various baits were

(1) malathlon, 0,0-diinethyl-S-(l,2 ('lcarboxethyl)dithiophos-

phate; (2) ciiazinon, o,0-diethyl-0-(2-isopropyl-6-methyl-4-

pyrluiidlriyDthlophosphate; (3) chlorthion, 0-(3-chloro-4-

nltroph8nyl)-0,0-diniethyl thlophospht ts; and (4) Bayer

L13/59 or Dlpterex, O.O-dlmethyl 2,2,2 trichloro-l-hydroxy-

©thyl phosphonate. All the baits were used as dry baits

except In on© building where It was used as varnish bait like

that used by Bruce, and all the belts were used at one per

cent strength. In one Instance It appeared necessary to change

one of the baits, (chlorthion) to slightly higher percentage.

Instead of changing the percertat es It was decided to dis-

continue Its use.

The buildings In which the tests were conducted were

located to the north ol the campus. The buildings were the

animal housing units of the Animal Husbandry, Poultry Hus-

bandry, Dairy Husbandry, Veterinary Medicine, and other

departments which keep livestock. The buildings were more or

less typical of farm buildings that could be found on forms in

the midwest. Ill the bulldln^fs had htrd surfaced floors

except one which had ? floor that was not cement or wooden.

Kone of the buildings were screened to exclude entrance of

flies. A description of the stations follovfs, together with

the bait used; Piste I gives the location:

Station 1, an experimental calf ham which Is the north-

east wing of the dairy b<;rn. Here baby calves were kept and

EXPLANATION OF PLATE I

The map on Plate I shows the build Inpe on the north partof the carapus at Kansas 3t te College which were used in thebaiting studies. The numbers at the various buildings showthe station number* which were assigned to them.

PLATE I

8HCCP

I—I BARNS

14

ND

VETER- '

INARY HOSP.'(EXPERIMENTAL)

EXPERIMENTALCATTLE SHEoe

1=1 rl5A

fmuim]

NORTHHOP SHEDnz2 8

MOO SHEOS

exFEETmehtalHOG SHED

4

KABSIIBULL•ARNS

1^13 '

D

<^ VETERINARY\ \ HOSPITAL

CLAFLIN RD.

AN. MUSS.SHOW SARN

10

POULTRYFARM

12 A

a

o a

I2C

D nWaters hall

10

fed In Individual penat until they were weaned. This wing did

not have a concrete floor but it h\;d one of h: rd packed olay.

This wing was dry, clean, and airy. Malathlon dry bait was

used.

Station 2B, an experimental cow shed which is the southeast

wing of the dairy barn. Here experimental dairy cows were

housed. The sanitation was good but the floor was hosed

periodically and floor was wet part of the time. Malathlon

dry bait was used.

Station 2, dairy bull sheds locetttd east of the m&in dairy

bam where herd bulls were housed. Malathlon dry bait was

used; later it was dropped because of a lac^c of flies.

Station 3» dairy barn hay sheds in which hay was stored

and fed. One building was br ited for about a week and then

used as an untreated check. Malatblon dry bait was used for

that week.

Station 4, an experimental hogshed in which pigs were

kept under controlled conditions on pig nutrition experiments.

The floor wds wet most of the time and fermenting manure

attracted many flies. Water also dissolved the bait making

it ineffective. Dlazinon dry bait and later Bayer L13/59

dry bait used.

Stations 5 and 5 A, experimental sheds for Animal

Husbandry's principle experiments on feeding beef cattle were

11

in thlB series of bulldinpa. They consisted of a series of

open shede and pens. These pens were attractive to Inre*

numbers of flies because molssseB feeds were used; l^rge

amounts of njanure produced by concentrated herds of cattle

resulted In large numbers of flies. These buildings were

used as untreated controls.

Station 6, two separate bull sheds a short distance from

station 5t In which three beef bulls were housed. These sheds

were used for an untreated control for a short time and

dropped for lack of flies.

Station 7» the veterinary experimental hospital where

animal disease studies are conducted. several sheds are

housln^^ for experimental animtls In cages and pens. The

1 rgest building was open and airy but the floor wss mostly

wet. One hog shed was cleaned regularly but had a very

attractive odor to flies. Bayer L13/59 dry belt was used.

Station 8, the north hogshed In which a few hogs, apparent-

ly brood sows, were kept. Kot heavily populated by animals

80 It was very di>y and not especially attractive to flies.

Used as an untreated control.

Station 9» the hog shed in which the main p-rt of the swine

herd was housed. This shed was no. rly empty throughout the

summer bo flies did not congregate heavily In this building.

The hog shed co jld not be dry baited so diazlnon hard bait was

used.

12

Station 10, the animal husbandry show barn commonly known

as the "old stone barn" ie used to hou?e show stock. Manure

was hauled regularly but nurse cows were stripped out onto the

floor when show calves were through sucking; the milk

attracted a number of files. Chlorthlon dry bait was used

and later Bayer L13/59 WcS substituted.

Stations 11, 12, 12A, 12B, 12C, are all located on the

poultry farm. Station 11 is a series of movable brooder

houses located to the west of the permanent structures.

Nothing was done with these; the brooder houses were kept

as an extrw check. Station 12, two Itrge platforms or roosts

upon which turkeys were reared to sufficient size to be put

on range. A deep accumulation of droppings made t productive

larval medium as well as an attractant to adult flies.

Station 12,1 la a large laying house with large alleyways

between banks of cages. Station 12B, two l:rge houses In

which chicks were reared to fryer size. Station 12C was a

series of buildings in which eggs were handled, crates stored,

and maintenance work on equipment was done. Inside the

buildings sanitation wvs good but un:er the turkey roosts it

was poor. Malathlon dry b it was used in all the buildings

at the poultry plant. For the turkey roostc malathlon dry

bait was tried; Itter malathlon spray bait was substituted.

Station 13» K.A.B.S.U. bull barns and laboratories for

the Kansas .fU?tlficisl Breeders' Service Unit, located about

13

thr«« quarters of a mile w^st of the campus. Treating was

done oi:ly In the b; rns; nothine could be used in the laborc>-

tory. Here cleanllneBs was excellent; Bayer L13/59 was U8«d.

Station 14, the sheep borns are two rather lyrge open

b;rns which house the sheep flock. Only one bam could be

baited the other lacked concrete alleyways upon which bait

could be spread. Bayer L13/59 was used.

Station 15 » the southwest win? of the dslry barn is used

to house newly weaned baby celvee. Sanitation was good except

in one corner where the floor was quite damp. Here oc-

casional pens could be baited if they were empty; the herds-

man was cautioned to clean the pen well before it was occupied.

Chlorthion was used followed by mplathion dry bait.

When Dr. Brundrett came to Manhattan, he broupht with him

a supply of ready mixed baits; however, as these bsits were

exhausted it was necess-ry to mix more bait. Insecticides

were used from the Entomolopy Depyrtraent's supply and mixed

with gronulated sugar purchased at a local grocery. The

malathion, dlazlnon, 2nd chlorthfep^n baits were mixed from

twenty-five per cent wettable powders. One pound of each of

the above wettable powders was thoroughly mixed with twenty-

four pounds of granulated sugar to give twenty-five pounds

of one per cent active ingredient housefly by it, or simply,

a one per cent bait.

14

The mixing operation wae accoinpllahed by means of m

flberbOijTd Insecticide drum with a clarap-on lid. The necessary

ingredients were cumped in the druTi, the licfi clamped on and

the drum rolled back and forth over the floor of the store-

room, .t first It was noted that the wettable powders had a

tendency to clump Instead of breaking up and coating the

individual sugar granules. Realizing the small percentage

of Insecticide in the mixture it became apparent that these

clumps had to be broken. The wettable powder was then

blended In a mortar with a pound or two of sugar, then the

blended mixture was tumbled In the drum with the remaining

sugar to make a bolt of the correct strength. This blending

method, though effective, proved to be laborious when working

with large amounts at one time. It was found that wettable

powder would break up well if run throxigh a seive with a

small amount of sugar; then It was possible to mix It in the

drum in the usual manner.

When formulating bait from technical Bayer LI3/59, it

was necessary to grind it in a mortrr, since it waa In the

form of fine white crystals. Ninety-one and one quarter gram

of technical Bayer IJ.3/59 were placed in a cast iron uortar

with a tablespoon or two of sugar and g^o\jnd with the pestle

until the sugar - nd the Bayer L13/59 were both ne:rly as fine

as confectioner's sugar. This mixture was then slowly added

to 20 pounds of granulated sugar and mixed in a flberboard

drum in the same manner as the other baits.

15

The bait was scattered from shak-r Jfrs onto floore and

other horizont 1 surfaces in the test bulidlne:,a. These shaker

Jars were made from fruit Jars with holes pierced through the

lids. In order to make accurate applications, the Jars were

marked off In two ounce graduations. One major advantage used

In this study was that the whole procedure of baiting and bait

mixing were simple, Inexpensive, time saving, and could be

done with a minimum Investment in equipment. In the future,

it la firmly believed that dry baiting will become popular for

these four reasons.

In order to estimate the effectiveness of baiting, it was

necessary to use some uniform method of estimating the density

of the fly population In any given building. Rather than use

the Scudder Grid method, a technique was employed by counting

the flies in an estimated square yard of floor or wall area.

Four to ten counts were made in each building depending on the

size of the building, and recorded in a field notebook. These

counts were averaged and recorded in a permanent record along

with the amount of bait needed, based upon the app'rrent results

obtained from toe previous applications. Counts were not made

in the Same area each time, because flies tended to congregate

in different parts of a building at different times of the day.

Counts were always made in areas of maximum density. Although

the relative numbers of dead flies were noted, no counts of

the dead flies were made; the best measurement of efficiency must

be evaluated on the basis of the numbers of living flies present.

16

Baiting was stcrted on June 21. Bait was applied about

dally from that date for about two weeks. This was the period

necessary to brlnp the fly population down to a point where

dally t-ppllcatlons were wasteful. The frequency of application

was then changed from dally applications to two to four times

a week. R'>lt was spread on floors and other horizontal sur-

faces In bulidings, out of reach of livestock. No pens were

baited unless they were unoccupied and would be for some time.

This precaution may have seemed unnecessary because of the

relatively low toxicity of the poison, but valusble breeding

and experlmenti'l livestock were often Involved. The toxi-

cants, especially the chronic effects, were not nown at

that time and In some oases still need to be determined. The

only casualties were some cats which had evidently licked

enough bsit from their feet to be fatal*

DISCUaSIOK AND RESULTS

Plates 11 and III show the results of the baiting from

June 21 to September 3 J first counts v;ere mide two days prior

to actual baiting. The Int -rval was divided Into seven day

periods and average number of flies per square yard was com-

puted for that period; the range In number of living flies

for that period Is also shown on that same line. The term

"ounces b-lt per 10'"^0 squ£;.re feet for period " refers to the

rate of application per 1000 square feet of floor siirf 'ce.

HM

b

oHEh

n

n o a>+9 O "Hto +3 H® Pi Cd <«-)

4^ <D -P

Co®

o uXi o o•P ^ 10

, ShO +3

a © ;2

OHP O W« -P©

H 03

4»•Hci

o o

§o•H

Q ^

©

53

I

©© O-P tS

«0 HHOk

© ©p. C^ o

a p.

© ,£3

^ O

©

03 U•P O

os ©P oa (A

O <i-4

+5 P09

O %H

oIh oO H

i

©

© GP< 03 «H

a o

© -p^ ©p ©

^ O •Ho -po flxs•P «H

P^'C o© © •H

p^ ^© >X! 03 "H +3

o

•pat

©

a

03©

So!3 OCJ<003 iH «H

cd

O © +3

o

UJoz

to 4

t5

00OJ (EN,

CD

<ui

z<M a:

V.

ODJ-<UIoz

IO<a:

CD31

kJ<9Z

COV.

<OC

CD

^UIoz_

lO RA

111

oz<

CVJ IEV.

Uioz<_

31

ujOz

o <IE

><ulOZ<t

ro IE

fx.

31

uoZ

u> <CJ (E

to

UI

z0> <

IE•s.

(0

31

OzzzC9lil

(D

CO>-<o

I-

<0

OB — ID

nCD

• - OD

irinOl

'l'

11

1 1

,"1

1

i 1•

1 •1

1

1 1 1

1

(0 — o

CM

1

mCM

IS

10-16

33 423.0

10

0110

EMPTY

in

in10

4-18

22 4I4.S

in

oi» o« - ol

CI O" lb

IO

A1

t

01

O

6

at to

9-12

14 210.0

IB

0-30

SPRAYED

8/20

to

GALS. in 10 in

f-

O

m in lo o6

OB

* » 10 P

ID

0> — in

p"

to

3-18

II

10-12

2014.4

12

8-15

203

14.4

60

45-76

SPRAYED8/16

3

GALS.

«

lO m IO O

10

Ol

91 in 10 >o

lO

ol

ID

1

lO in 10 on

o 70

40-128

3216.0

9

5

-18

It

9-14

2014.4

12

II-

14

202

14.4

14

4-251 00 01 o

o<0

CM

<i> to 01 ?m

CM

~ oO CD ol 00

40

36-45

62 231.0

6

6-7

NOB CO OB

in

OD

<D

1

^ OD ol •m

in30

3-40

SPRAYED

7/26

10

GALS-

II

11-12

12 26.0

17

14-20

10 26.6

1

Ol Ol q~~

CM o ~to

17

16-18

14

7-23

16 411.4

II

8-13

16 411.4

23

1-4

12

11-13

12 46.0

CM

10 CM 10

Pol

n 64

34-118

44 2 22.0

10

7-16

19

12-20

16 311.4

mlO

1

ID <D IO OD— 6

o -Ol

30

1-32 1

(0~ lO o

lb

CO 12

12-13

II 3 7.3

in

* ri« P65

60-68

40 320.0

(0

7 *00 VOi^

19

10-21

IS 3lO.e

23

18-40

IS 310.8

14

2-38

SPRAYED7/13

to

GALS

.

rl = .o

OB17

12-24

It 37,3

o

« z IO 952

51-62

28 314.0

in

1

OJ

o

15

7-44

32 S22.9

23

12-38

32 5

22.9

SI

26-90

21 522.9

m

<o

, - m oK CM ^

OB

CD

» P

ID38

35-53

31 5IS.S

II

6-21

20

9-30

IS S10.8

40

28-56

15 S10.8

34

16-68

17 418.7

II

10-12

16 48.0

13

11-16

16 411.8

0>

« 2 * PID

h-31

18-40

21 41V.V

in

i

0)

io

24

13-40

IS Stu.o

24

16-25

13 5 9.4

61

6-165

13 514.7

ool

in 01 m P- ID

oCM

CD ^ m oHi

O^ « in O

oi

(088

27-90

ei s6/

29

MALATHION

FLIES/SQ.

YD.

OZ.BAIT

FOR

PERIOD

NO.

OF

TREATMENTS

OZ.

BAIT/1000

SQ.FT

FOR

PERIOD

MALATHION

FLIES/

SQ.

YD.

OZ.

BAIT

FOR

PERIOD

NO.

OF

TREATMENTS

OZ.

BAIT/IOOOSQ.FT

FOR

PERIOD

MALATHION

(SPRAY)

FLIES/SQ

YD.

OZ.

BAIT

FOR

PERIOD

NO.

OF

TREATMENTS

OZ.

BAIT/

1000

SQ.FT.

FOR

PERIOD

MALATHION

FLIES/SQ.

YD.

OZ.

BAIT

FOR

PERIOD

NO.

OF

TREATMENTS

OZ.

BAIT/IOOOSQ.FC

FOR

PERIOD

MALATHION

FLIES/SQ.

YD.

or

BAIT

FOR

PERIOD

NO

OF

TREATMENTS

OZ.

BAIT/IOOOSQ

FT.

FOR

PERIOD

MALATHION

FLIES/

SQ.

YD.

OZ.

BAIT

FOR

PERIOD

NO.

OF

TREATMENTS

OZ.

BAIT/IOOOSQ

FT.

FOR

PERIOD

DIAZINON

FLtcS

/SQ.

YD.

0Z.6KITF0R

PERIOD

NO.

OF

TREATMENTS

OZ.

BAIT

/lOOO

SQ.YC

FOR

PERIOD

OlAZINON

VARNISH

FLIES/SQ

YD.

BAITED

<- m (M CD

O +5 ©(0 •

OJ +3 o_ © C <M

I +3

20

111

I-

<-I

a.

ul

4

a4bj

ao <?N Z

ao

>

UJ

Q z<

CD

<UJ

z<

CO

biOz<

a

UJOz4(E

>4ulO

egRAN

N3e

Ul

z4(E

r- >4

^Z

o 4o:

>4UJoz4(E

4Ulo

iD AN

CvJ (E

>^4blOZ

0> RA

>»

<D

SI

OzzzoUJ01

in>-

<

0>

* 2f <

I

•C CD CM

CD

« W *

n

o to ^

!^'> ur 4c Qn o bic o-<3 u. <E - -

^ t. t UJ

ujm m ° ID „<_j rl O M oCDu. o Z O u.

• « CVJ

mI

Did ^ <^

W(0 <M 9

r--oJ ^

0« u!

Z

OQ^ 3 o _^ >- oc 5 o 9m . o 3 o o-Ob. a:

- 5<">- t- t Ul

o:;i 5 u. 4 0.

Siloz ou.

ro

CM •

rO

ccl N i<>

<5jf!cg

in

u>

in O ,

91 <E Z <Jm j^JuiOT

-I a u. ul 2 -

uj^2s2^4 _J N 6 N OID b. o Z OU.

Zcli a.

Si^' 4

OU. O

Z CJUJ CO

z o

UJ — O

-. ulu. < 0-

O (D

^Z O b.

w

ICVJ to

CD

20

10-40

5220.4

- eg _CVJ

eg

25

lO-SO

46 318.4

lO

^ 01

o

O«

COlO

in

o

o

CI

— CVJ TOt

- (O <r

c '

>e

u> ^• w v*;

in

;^j8* 9— o

a> *eg

CD ^ *eg *

I*;

ca a,

weg

neg

meo 9w

0>

lOeg

<nCVJ

— CM *mCM

29

40-45

36 514.4

<n

MmCVJ

26

21-31

55 622.0

o10

S?" 900

_ lOlO*

15

10-21

24 2 9.6

olO

eg T

egeg

zd»-

^ OU.

OU. o

z oUl V)

2 Ot°aUJ — O

O N OZ O u.

ID

!Sz_iCb. O

in

<»ca:

!^z_j p _jcu- o u. o

-2

00 ro

21

This method was selected since buildings varied In size and the

feinount of floor space available for baiting varied also. In

none of the buildings could more than half the actual floor

epece be baited. The footnote figures indicate that In Stations

10 snd 15 there were substitutions made as the chlorthion bait

was expended*

The northeast wing (Station 1a), the aouthecst wing

(Station IB), and the southwest wing (Station 15) were baited

the entire season from June 21 to September 3. The main pjrt

of the dairy barn, holding stanchions for more than 100 cows,

was not baited because the floors and walls were hosed with

water twice dally. In the center aisle spilled silage served

as a fly s.ttractant; no baiting could be done here because

the silage was cleaned up and re-used for feed. In stations

lA and IB malathion was used, resulting in an average of 13

flies per square yard during the period July 10 to September 3

which was the period after populations had been substantially

reduced by daily applications. In Station 15, chlorthion w- s

used until July 17, but fly populations were not being

effectively reduced as indicated by average counts of 22, A3,

25, and 25. 4 switch to malathion resulted In an average

count of 13; this fver^-^ge figure is compared to an average

count of 33 among the controls.

In the bulldlnfB at the poultry plant (stations 12a, 12B,

and 12C), malathion dry bait was used for the entire season.

The control problem was not in the buildings themselves because

22

the buildings were kept clean and dry. Once when rain leaked

Into one building (12B-8/6), flies bred rapidly to a peak of

60 flies per square yard in the wet m.nure. As soon as it

waa removed the counts lowered again. The .werage fly counts

from July 10 to September 3 were 11 flies per square y rd in

the buildings at the poultry plant.

In the beginning, the turkey platforms (Station 12)

presented somewhat of a problem. The accumulation of manure

under the roosts was very attr- ctive to adult flies and they

congregated in great numbers under these platfor-ns. This wet

manure was also serving as a larval medium and was producing

large numbers of flies. It was difficult to apply insecti-

cides to this breeding medium because anything thrown or any

apparatus extended under the platform would send the turkeys

into a panic. It had been reported that several turkeys had

been killed in previous years as a result of being paricked

while fly control was being done. A.t first an attempt was

made to bait the roost r by placing large boards around the

perimeter of the pl&tforms and sprinkling the bait on them.

The slightest breeze blew the bait off the boards onto the

groimd where it was unavailable to flies, iipray bait con-

sisting of ten gallons of water, ten pounds of sugar, and

eight ounces of fifty-seven per cent oil emuloifiable

malathion was then applied to the manure and the area surrounding

the platforms. This spray bait remained at an effective level

for ten to fifteen days. After that period it was covered by

23

manure or w; shed away by rains. Strangely, the spraying oper-

ation did not c'lsturb the turkeys. When the motor on the

sprayer started they seemed to concentrrte on the noise of the

exhaust and apparently did not notice the spray stream as It

was played around under the roosts.

At the hopshed (Station 9)» dry bfltinf- was not carried

on although the floor was dry and olean and dry baiting would

have worked well. The herdsman stated that pigs were handled

and weighed several times a week In the alleyways. Since pigs

might have gleaned a substEntlal amount of poisoned bait from

the floor. It was decided to use a hard or varnish bait out of

reach of the hogs. Four or five pounds of dlazlnon dry bait

were mixed with water and spread on the walls and studdlnga

high enough up on the walls to prevent a plr from reaching It.

Several sacks were also rolled up and dipped In the mixture

and hung from the celling. The varnish was replenished only once

during the summer. Fly counts averaged 13 per square yard dur-

ing the period July 10 to September 3.

The Kansas ;\rtlficlal Breeders' Service Unit (Station 13),

was somewhat reluctant to try the baiting at first. They were

concerned about the material irlftlng about the premises and

contamlnuting the bull semen and rulrlnr the viability. In

previous yecrs, when spraying was done to control files. It

had to be done at least twenty-four hours previous to the next

collection day. This h d to be done to give the spray drift

ample time to dry and settle. While spraying was done each

24

animal hid to be outside and left out until the eprny had dried*

The workers were willing to five the b -itlng j try. -fter about

ft month had passed and the baiting propram was well established,

the manager was questioned aa to whether the b itlng wae affect-

ing the quality of the bull semen. He stated that as far as

could be determined there was no chrjige In the storing qualities

and viability since the program had started. This type of fly

control is well adapted to such an organization as this because

it did not upset their schedule, it did not necessitate extra

handling of dangerous anlms-ls, nor did it effect the quality

of the bull semen. Fly counts for the K.A.B.S.U. barns

averoged 8 per square yard during the period July 10 to September

At the veterinary experlmentel hospital (Station 7)» bait-

ing also worked well. Fly counts averaged elfht per square

yard during the period July 10 to Sejptember 3. Hore there

were large banks of cages containing dogs, cats, rabbits, and

guinea pigs ae well as pens of cattle and hogs. In previous

years, when residual spraying was done, it was necessary to

wash each food and watering cup when the Job was finished.

Since bait was placed only In halls and alleys it was not

necessary to wash every cup before the next feeding.

Another Interesting observation was noted in the K.A.B.S.U.

bull barn and the sheep bam (Station 14). 'is newer boms are

built, the concrete floors are no longer trowelled smooth as

the cement sets. Instead a stiff broom Is drawn over the setting

oenent which gives an even but rougb tortured surface. This

25

typ« of floor prevents accidental fa ling of workers and arilmala

even t'noueh the floor Is wet. As btlt was scattered over thes«

floors It worked down into the depress ions In the surface of

the ceaent either by being walked upon or as the floor was

swept. This residue remained effective In spite of the fact

that the floor was swept. In one instance it was noted that

in one barn the floor had not been baited for three days and

yet the flies were dying In large numbers in spite of the fact

that the floor had been swept at least seven timeo since it

was last baited. In the sheep barn this residual action did

not 1 St as long as in the Toull barn, but it did last well from

one baiting to the next. In the sheep barn averaged five per

square yard during the period July 10 to September 3.

The experimental hogshed (Station 4) was a difficult build-

ing in which to obtain any degree of control. Hogs In this

shed were on controlled nutrition experiments, in individual

pens, with individual feeders and w -tererR. v/hen the weather

became hot, pigs would paw water from the waterer onto the

floor and lie in it to cool themselves. Soon the entire floor

was covered with w^:ter and tlie bait was dissolved. The wet

and fermenting manure was more attractive to flies in the

vicinity of the hogshed than it v;ould have been if the floor

had been dry. Furthermore, a large barn designated as a check

(station 5) was located immediately across the fence, which

produced a large number of flies. These flies were attracted

to the hogshed by its stronger odor. Diazinon was used in the

26

experimental hopshed resu iting In an aver f e count of 42 fli«8

per square yard for the period July 10 to September 3. In

spite of the large number of fliea th"t belting killed

(FlgB. 3 and A), a substantial niimber of living flies remained.

The show barn (Station 15), when diazinon bait was substituted

for chlorthion, resulted In counts which dropped quite steadily

even thougJi diazinon was not used on an everyday basis, as

evidenced by average counto 13 per square yrd from July 10

to September 3- It Is apparent that diazinon would have been

much more effective hed It been used where populations were

not 80 high as occurred In Station 4.

In the buildings w ilch were used as controls (Stations

5, 5A, 8, and 3) the avers ge count for the period July 10 to

September 3 was 30 flies per square yard. At Stations 5 and

5a there cattle on feeding experiment; -s can be seen from

Plate III, the fly populations were the heaviest at these two

stations. The other buildings had only one or two animals In

them most of the time, consequently the fly counts remained

quite low for most of the season. Sanitation was not good but

the manure h&6 a chance to dry out bo It was not very attract-

ive to flies. The sheds at Stations 5 and 5A were the

heaviest populated of the untre; ted controls.

Table 1 presents combined data, comparing the ineecticldes

from July 10 to September 3» which was the period after initial

repeated beltings had reduced the fly pot)ulation substantially.

Bayer L13/59 produced the best results at the lowest application

ra

>*a

o-p -a

01^

o

Io

H0}

CO

fcO«H

fl-P

OS a oXI O $^

03 a® H C

H©•Pm

o

o

Pc5

o•H

© t, iHtp © "H

«> B-O•p t>i

©

©«a o of^-p :3

© tJX5 o oEH f<

© ;i HbO»-s oj

OS Tt

© 6»H> £ c<! ^ "H

©Hit

^3O

Oo

1

>

Eh

CO

oooH

o

<!oMXOEh

t~ r-try VA

o1 I

I

in

CMHIoH

H

H -=f

-=^ oH

oH

CO

CO

-a-I

ovOI

iHH

o

OH wg oMISi O

i-ql-r-t oo o

• H

U -P

5" *&

o

&

©n65

28

rate. Dlazlnon and malathion were about equally effective at

the rates used. Chlorthlon was the least effective.

SUMMARY AND C0KCLUSI0H3

Baiting for housefly control was discontinued upon the

advent of j;DT, but was apaln Initiated when realstamce to this

Insecticide by housefllea became evident. This study consiated

of the use of four organic phosphorus compoxinds forniulated

at a rate of one per cent of the toxicant In granulated eupar

to make a dry bait. Baiting was Initiated In a number of barns

and other animal shelters on the Kansas State College campus.

Initial baiting was commenced on June 21 and wis applied almost

dally from that date until July 5. This was the period necessary

to bring the fly population down to a point where dally

applications ware no longer necessary. The frequency of

application was then changed to two to four times a week. No

pens were baited unlesr they were unoccupied and would continue

so for some time.

Bayer L13/59 gave the better results. It not only resulted

In lower population counts (7 flies per square yaird), but took

less material per floor area (4.4 oz. per 1000 square feet for

seven days). On roughened floor Bayer L13/59 e":ve good control

for OS long as three days although the floors had been swept

as often as twice dally. The buildings In which Bayer L13/59

29

was used wer« well leol ;ted and thla may h-?ve contributed somewhat

to their Buccess. However, sanitation was no different than In

other buildings.

Malsthlon resulted In fairly low counts (13 per square

yard) by t-lclng sliprjtly more bait (10.5 oz. per 1000 square

feet). Dry belt used out of doors was not successful and required

the use of spray bait. Spray bait gave good rer.ults with the

length of effectiveness l:rtlng about fifteen days.

YThen dlazlnon was used under ordin'-;ry population conditions,

the result was 13 flies per square yard, taking 18.0 oz, bait

per 1000 squ re feet per eeven days. In the hog shed, \rtiere

populations were exceedingly high. It was not effective; a

large area nearby, used as a control, was producing large

numbers of flies which were attracted to the odor of the hog-

shed. Leaking waterers and extremely wet floors dissolved the

bait making it unavailable to flies.

Chlorthlon resulted in counts of 23 living flies per

square yard and was soon discontinued. It Is believed that

It migjit havf vorked better if the toxic ingredient had been

Increased.

Dry baiting, as a method of controlling housefllee wae

effective; however, more efficient control would probably have

been attained by all baits had they been used more extensively.

Dry baiting is simple and Inexpensive; it can be done with a

minimum of investment in equipment. It Is well adapted to btfouUKi

used in uost farm buildings where there is sufficient sp

30

for it to be scattered. Dry baiting also makes unneoesaary the

use of cumbersome pans and containers.

While sugar baits ar-e effective In killing large nuinl^era

of houseflles, they do not present the coojplete answer to

housefly control. Dry sugar baits cannot be expected to provide

adequate control when sanitation practices are slighted.

EXPL'\NrtTlON OF PLATE IV

Harrison McGregor aoatterine dry bait on the floorof a barn. Kote the d«ad fliea on the floor fromthe previous baiting. In this building Bayer L13/59was used.

Fig. 1 fil«e PC tlfifr^a or; ttii? iioar It

->r-nt of or-^ rlrbtV b-'itlnr with ;

Fig. 2 ril'55.' ' by e' ' In omof the . tifSnp

*

34

PLATE VI

Fig. 1 Piles of d«ad flies in the corner of one building.This pile Mas about an inch deep. Diazinon dry-bait was used in this shed.

Fig. 2 The pile of flies in this picture represents theresults of baiting, in three buildings for threedays (Stations 4, 7 and 15).

37

LITBEATURE CITED

Bruce, W. N. A New Technique I:r Control Of The Houeefly »

Illinois Katur-'l History Survey DivisionBiological Notee Ko. 33, 1953.

Felt, E. P. Household /jid Camx) Insects .

New York State Museum Bulletin Ko. 19^, 1917.

Gahan, J. B., H* G. Wilson and W. C. McDuffle, "Dry SugarBaits For The Control of Reslsttnt Houseflles".Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2(8) :425-428 1954.

Gahan, J. B. , R. S. inders, H. Highland and H. G. ..ilaon,

"Balta For The Control Of itesistent Houseflles".Journal ol Economic Entomolop-y 46(6)965-959 1953.

Howard, L. 0. The Housefly i\nd How To Suppress It.United States Department of agriculture Farmers'Bulletin Ko. 1408. 1925.

Hansens, E. J. "Three New Insecticides For HouseflyControl" Journal of Economic Entomology 46(2)'il2-yji\ 1953.

Morrill, A. W. "Experiments With Kousefly Baits ;\nd Poisons"Journal of Economic [ijitomolof^y 7(3) :268-274 1914.

Smith, R. I. "Formalin For Poisoning Houseflles Proves VeryAttractive When Used With Sweet Milk" Journal ofEconomic Entomology 4(5) :417~418 1911.

Thompson, R. K., 1. A. whipp, D. L. Davis and E. G. Batte'

"Fly Control With \ Mew Application Method" Journalof Economic Entomology 46(3) :404-409 1953.

United States Department of Agriculture Important InsectsV/hlch May Affect The Health of Men Or Animals EngvgedIn Military Operations Clrcul-*r 6l»l-10 1916.

38

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The writer wishes to express his sincere appreciation to

Dr. Herbert C. Knuteon, Head of the Department of Entomology,

for suggesting the work, for guidance, and for constructive

criticism during the course of the investigations.

Many thanks are due Dr. R. C. Bushland, Dr. H. xM. Brundrett,

and Mr. Charles C. Smith, of the Entomological Research Branch

Laboratories of the United States Department of Agriculture at

Kerrville, Texas who were helpful In initiating the tests.

Thanks are also extended Harrison E. McGregor, a student

at Kansas State College, for his assistence in the field work.

HOUSEFLY CONTROL WITH DRY BAITS FORMULATED FROMORGA^lIC PHOSPHORUS INSECTICIDES i\ND SUGAR

by

WAYNE LESLIE BERNDT

B. S., South Dakota State Colleg*of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, 1950

AN ABSTRACT OF A THESIS

submitted In partial fulfillment of the

requirements for the degre*

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Department of Entomology

KANSAS STATE COLLEGEOF AGRICULTURE AND APPLIED SCIf-JNCE

1955

I

Fly baits using mill? and formalin or arsenic were In common

use prior to World 'iar II. When DDT became available, residual

sprays replaced baits; but baiting was sipaln Initiated vhen

resistance to chlorinated Insecticides became evident. Organic

phosphorus insecticides are effective in controlling houaeflies

but are too toxic to mammals to be used as residual sprays In

many Instances. Low concentrations of these Insecticides with

an attractant can be used safely and effectively.

Baiting tests were conducted as a part of the campus fly

control progranfi during the summer of 195^. The buildings In

which tests were conducted were animal barns located on the

Kansas State College campus. These buildings were divided

into fifteen baiting stations and a specific formulation

assigned to each station.

All the baits were formulated at a rate of one per cent

of the toxic ingredient in an ; ttractant which was granulated

sug?r. The toxic ingredients were: m biathlon, diazlnon,

chlorthion, and Bayer L13/59. The bolts were applied to floors

and other horizontal surfaces in the test buildings out of

reach of animals o cupylng these buildings. Shaker jars for

the bait v/ere devised from pint fruit Jars with holes pierced

in the lids. When baiting was initiated on June 21 applica-

tions were mede nearly every day; by July 5 the fly popul-

ations dirainiahed to a point where applications were reduced

to two to four times a week.

Where It was not feasible to use dry bait, varnish or

hard bait was made by dissolving dry bait in water and

spreading It on walls and studdlnps. -pr y bolt was used for

manure treatment because dry bait was blown away or otherwise

destroyed.

Estimation of the density of housefly populations was made

by counting the flies In an estimated squore yard of floor

or wall surface In areas of maximum density. Counts of dead

files were not made because the better measure of control

efficiency Is based upon the numbers of living files In a

treated yrea.

Bayer L13/59 gave the better results of the materials

tested. It produced a seasonal average of seven files per

square yard compared to 30 In the controls, using 4.4 ounces

of bait per 1000 square feet of floor surface for a seven

day period. On rough concrete floors Bayer L13/59 gave control

for as long as three dcys although the floors were swept twice

dally.

Malathlon dry baits gave average fly counts of 13 files

per square yard compared to 30 in the coijtrols, using 10.5

ounces of bait per 1000 squere feet of floor surface for a

seven day period. Malathlon dry bait used out-of-doors was

not successful. When spray bait was substituted in its place,

it gave effective control for about fifteen days.

Diazlnon was not particularly effective in one station

because fly populations were exceedingly hiph. F\irthermore,

extremely wet floors dissolved the bait making it unavailable

to flies. Where diazlnon wes used under populations conc^

similar to the other stations, the result was an average of 13

files per square yard compared to 30 per square yard In the

controlB, UBlne 18 ounces of bait per 1000 square feet of

floor surface per seven day period. Results were similar

to those obtained with raalathlon dry bait.

One per cent chlorthion dry bait was not effective.

Chlorthlon achieved an average of 23 files per square yard

compared to 30 per square yerd In the controls, using 17 ounces

of dry bait per 100"> square f.:et of floor surface per seven day

period. Chlorthlon was not used in the teste after July 30.

The dry bi Itlng technique was found to be well adapted

for use in farm buildings as long as the floors were fairly

dry and clean. Where dry baiting was not possible, varnish

baits or spray baits were effective but required the use of

special equipment. Dry baiting was found to be effective

where sanitation was practiced, but it was not found to be a

subEtitute for sanitation in fly control.