Control of house flies on some West Indies islands with metepa, apholate, and trichlorfon baits.

Abstract

Two chemosterilants, metepa and apholate, and an insecticide, trichlorfon, were applied in sweetened baits in the pits of all the privies on 3 islands in the West Indies for control of house flies, Musca domestica L. Semiweekly treatments were made, first with granular baits and then with sugar syrup. On Grand Turk,.1% metepa liquid bait usually induced sterility in excess of 80% and reduced fly abundance more than 90% over 18 months. On Mayaguana. 1% liquid apholate bait produced about 60-80% sterility) over 3 months under less favorable conditions and reduced fly abundance 50-80%. On San Salvador, 1% liquid trichlorfon bait reduced fly abundance 50-90%. The flies did not develop resistance to the chemosterilants during 2 years of exposure; instead the fertility of the treated strain apparently declined slightly.