A WIND‐ORIENTED FLY TRAP FOR QUANTITATIVE SAMPLING OF ADULT MUSCA VETUSTISSIMA WALKER

A wind-oriented bait trap is described for sampling populations of bush fly (Musca vetustissima). The trap is less costly than the current “West Australian” blowfly trap, easier to maintain and operate, but samples just as effectively. The trap is baited with a mixture of cattle dung, minced liver, and sodium sulphide, in which blowfly larvae have developed for 2–3 d at 26°C. The function of the larvae is to maintain the attractiveness of the bait at a constant level for up to 2 d in the field.