Purdue University
Agricultural Extension Service
Department of Entomology
Mimeo E-25
April 1949
Rev. July 1955
Urban Fly Control
----------------A Community Project
The suggestions contained in this mimeo are based upon research data and upon the experiences acquired in cities where fly control campaigns have been conducted. The following program is therefore suggested for those making plans to conduct such a campaign.
1.	Organization. Careful organization is necessary since a fly control campaign involves the expenditure of considerable amounts of money and the labor of many people. There is no simple way to get the job done.
2.	Survey. One of the first and most important procedures in any city campaign is a survey by trained personnel to determine the situation and methods of procedure. This will provide data as to equipment needed, kind and amount of chemicals to be used, cooperation required of city departments and residents, personnel needed and approximate cost of the program. Commercial pest control operators and other trained persons can render valuable assistance in making such a survey.
3.	Publicity. Publicity is an important part of any fly control campaign since results will be determined to a large degree by the cooperation of individual residents.
4.	Sanitation. Fly maggots develop in any decaying organic matter, and the basic part of any campaign is the clean-up and/or elimination of such breeding areas. This includes proper consideration of garbage containers, garbage disposal, city dumps, refuse piles behind stores and decaying matter of all kinds. Emphasis should be given to keeping garbage cans on stands so that dogs cannot spill the contents. Garbage must be removed at regular intervals and collectors should be instructed to handle the cans carefully since the lids will seldom fit tight on bent cans. An important procedure is the weekly spraying of garbage trucks. Homes and business houses should be kept well-screened. There are no chemicals known that will give satisfactory fly control unless their use is accompanied by a well-planned and conducted sanitation program.
5.	Insecticide Control. Flies have become resistant to DDT and related compounds and the only residual-type chemicals now widely recommended are the phosphate insecticides, Malathion, Diazinon and Dipterex.
In some areas chlorinated hydrocarbon sprays containing .25 percent lindane or 1.25 percent dieldrin or 2 to 5 percent DDT are still effective and if so there is no objection to their use either alone or in combination.
They are now more effective as fogs and mists to kill adult flies on contact than as residual sprays.
Pyrethrum fly sprays and aerosols are effective for killing flies indoors or for fogging restricted areas but they have no residual effect.