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On the Narcissus Flies, Merodon equestris (F.) and Eumerus tuberculatus (Rond.) and their Control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

E. E. Edwards  and
W. J. Bevan
E. E. Edwards
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, University College of the Gold Coast.
W. J. Bevan
Affiliation:
late of the Agricultural Zoology Department, University College, Cardiff.
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Extract

A résumé is given of the recommendations hitherto made for the control of the Narcissus flies, Merodon equestris and Eumerus tuberculatus. Nevertheless, the control of these pests still remains a major problem in the British Isles. Laboratory and field experiments on the control of both these species were carried out in 1946 and 1947. In the field trials, dichloro-diphenyl trichlorethane (DDT), benzene hexachloride (BHC) and mercurous chloride (calomel) were included. The DDT and BHC were applied in the form of sprays, at a concentration of 0·5 per cent. suspension in water, over the aerial parts of the Narcissus plants and the surrounding soil on three separate occasions at approximately monthly intervals during the oviposition period, starting on May 10, some two or three days before the adult flies normally appear in the district. The calomel was applied in the form of a 4 per cent. dust on separate occasions during this period.

BHC and DDT were successful in producing a marked reduction in the degree of infestations by both species of Narcissus flies and, of the two insecticides, the former was apparently more effective. Although calomel dust afforded an appreciable protection against attacks by the Large Narcissus Fly, M. equestris, it exercised negligible control of the Small Narcissus Fly, E. tuberculatus, in these experiments. It seems from the results obtained in the present investigations that DDT and, in particular, BHC do provide a much more effective and practical means of controlling infestations of the Narcissus flies than any other methods hitherto tested.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , February 1951 , pp. 593 - 598
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1951

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