The Use of Electromagnetic Microwaves
for the Control of Fly Larvae
in Poultry Manure
NATHAN C. BURBANK, JR., Professor
Department of Environmental Health and Sanitary Engineering
University of Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
ROY RUSSELL, Advisory Sanitarian
Health Services Division
Social and Health Services Department
Olympia, Washington
INTRODUCTION
Flies have historically been considered a public health problem because of their role as
a vector of disease. The role of flies as a vector of disease continues; however, their role as a
public health nuisance now overshadows any disease transmission in our urbanized and
rural areas where modern environmental sanitation practices have been adopted.
The unprecedented growth of population has created a need for housing to expand into
rural areas. These areas sometimes retain some of their rural elements even after such
urbanization has occurred. Certain economic pursuits, notably rural in character, such as
mink, poultry, and dairy farming, sometimes continue for an indefinite period. Associated
with the keeping of these animals is fly production unless a strict regimen of frequent
manure removal or treatment is adopted and followed.
Poultry manure is an attractive breeding ground for several species of flies. Those most
commonly encountered are: the housefly (Mused), lesser housefly (Fannia), false stable fly
(Muscina), green blow fly (Phoenicia), black blow fly (Phormia), stable fly (Stomoxys), and
the drone fly (Tubifera) (1,2, 3). The relative abundance of the different species depends
upon seasonal climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation, light, and physical
characteristics of the manure, particularly moisture content. Depending on favorable
conditions of temperature and moisture, development of the fly from egg to adult may take
place in as little as eight days (4,5).
Control measures are similar for all of these species of flies, e.g., frequent manure
removal, drying, or application of pesticides.
Manure removal from a ranch at intervals necessary to inhibit fly production is
frequently not possible because of economic and physical factors. There often is little or no
market for the manure as a soil conditioner or as a fertilizer by-product because of the
season of the year. Further, commercially prepared fertilizers have come to be more and
more acceptable in application because of their low cost, ease in handling, ready
availability, and controlled composition. Manpower and equipment necessary for frequent
removal of animal manure is often not available.
Drying of manure is an effective means of fly control on poultry ranches in some parts
of the country such as Southern California. Birds placed in wire cages are limited in the
number placed in each cage so as to reduce the quantity of manure accumulated daily under
the cage. Spacing, orientation, and openness of poultry houses is such that a maximum
advantage of sunlight and ventilation is utilized.
On many farms, instead of frequent removal or drying, application of a pesticide for fly
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