DEATH TO FLIES

Opotiki News, Volume X, Issue 1049, 25 November 1947, Page 3

DEATH TO FLIES

U.S. MAY END PEST SUCCESS "of INSECTICIDE The common fly may cease to be a household problem, in America within the next five years, and may even become virtually extinct, if control measures now being taken in some States arc expanded. Already the use of the insecticide DDT has brought about a remarkable reduction in the fly uuisaucc in parts of the country. Some scientists are certain that DDT will eventually mean (he end of the fly. In any case, they know that this and oilier bomb-carried insecticides can control it.

Dr. Harold Gunderson, an low a entomologist, reported recently that lowa stores and restaurants had enjoyed complete absence of flies throughout the summer by the use of DDT and other sanitation measures.

Fly breeding places in and near cities were destroyed, and DDT was sprayed in alleys, garbage dumps, stockyards and similar places.

Surveying reports, from this and other areas, Government scientists consider that the remarkable reduction in the number of flies is the result of the everyday use of DDT by housewives. They say that if such haphazard applications are effective there should be astonishing results when scientific!!fly conducted programmes arc carried out throughout Ur: country.