A cultural method for controlling the house fly Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae) and studying certain aspects of its biology in the Jordan Valley
1995
Romiah, N.I.
This study was undertaken to determine whether or not incorporation of manure in the soil before applying water for fermentation would serve as a control method for the house fly Musca domestica L. The effect of this method on plant growth and fructification was investigated. Results showed that the method proved to be very effective in controlling the house fly since no larva were detected in the manure incorporated in the soil, whereas high fly numbers were found in the manure applied on the soil surface and then irrigated as practiced by the farmers. No negative effect on pepper plant growth, i.e. plant height, number of flowers, crop production and dead seedlings were found. Various sources of infestation were investigated: dung heaps placed on farms prior to planting, manure applied to the soil in plastic houses or to vegetable farms in the open fields. Results indicated that manure applied in narrow strips by irrigation pipes in vegetable farms in open fields was the most important source of infestation followed by manure applied to citrus and banana orchards. Heaps placed on farms prior to planting were not considered as a source of infestation, because they were kept dry by the high temperature prevailing in the Valley. In investigating the preferable kinds of manure for house fly development, compost form of local company, sheep and cow were found to be preferable in descending order, where cow manure which was kept in open for over a year, was free from infestation. Studies were carried out on the population of the house fly. Flies attained high number in August, September and October, which coincided with the time of land preparation by the farmers and adding of manure especially for vegetable production in open fields. Results revealed that the house fly has 21 generations per year in the Jordan Valley
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