Factors affecting numbers of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) captured by ultraviolet light traps in a large retail supermarket

Authors: Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2020
Publication Date: 1/18/2021
Citation: Hogsette, Jr, J.A. 2021. Factors affecting numbers of house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) captured by ultraviolet light traps in a large retail supermarket. Journal of Economic Entomology. 114(2):988-992. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa319.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toaa319

Interpretive Summary: Traps with ultraviolet (UV) light as an attractant are commonly used for indoor management of house flies in urban facilities. An evaluation was made of light traps in a large supermarket to determine if traps mounted higher or lower, or traps with white or black glue boards captured more flies. There were 18 traps (2 types) in the study and the study was conducted for 8 weeks in central Florida. Traps set on the floor captured more flies than traps mounted 6 feet above the floor most of the time. Traps with black glue boards caught up to 50% less flies than traps with white glue boards. By looking at traps throughout the store it was possible to see where flies congregate. Results will enable pest control operators to better manage house flies in stores. Better knowledge of the best trap height and glue board color will increase numbers of flies captured and knowing where flies congregate will enable more control efforts to be placed in those places.

Technical Abstract: The house fly, Musca domestica L., is an international nuisance and vector of numerous pathogens that cause disease syndromes in humans and animals. In urban areas, fly exclusion is a major part of the pest management program at many commercial establishments. If flies elude the exclusion techniques, a system for fly management inside the building is the next line of defense. In this study, permission was given to evaluate the fly management system consisting of 12 GT-180 and 6 MX-360 ultraviolet (UV) light traps inside of a large supermarket for 8 wk. The GT-180 traps mounted 2 m high on the walls captured significantly less flies than the MX-360, a larger portable placed on the floor. Both glue boards in the GT-180 trap captured similar number of flies, but the mean numbers of flies captured by the two vertically mounted glue boards combined in the MX-360 were not significantly different from those captured by the single lower horizontal glue board. Changing from white to black glue boards significantly reduced the numbers of flies captured by both traps. The larger MX-360 traps on the floor captured significantly more flies than the smaller GT-180 traps mounted 2 m high on the walls. Three of the six traps that captured the largest mean numbers of flies were located in the Bakery, followed by the Deli. A total of 3,626 house flies (453/wk) was captured during the study. Changes in weekly fly populations inside the store were visibly obvious because the numbers were so high. Difference in flies trapped because of trap location and height, and glue board color are further discussed.