Fly alert for NT
Friday, 29 January 2016
People are being urged to help control a seasonal surge in fly numbers across the NT by correctly storing or disposing of garbage waste in household wheelie bins and industrial bins.
Director Medical Entomology Nina Kurucz said recent high temperatures had sped up the maggot life cycle and the number of flies being produced.
It appears the outbreak, particularly in the Darwin area, has been restricted to a number of “hotspots” around the city.
Ms Kurucz said the most common pest flies in Darwin are the housefly Musca domestica and the blue-green blowfly Chrysomyia megacephala.
“One of the most effective ways to ensure household rubbish is not affected by maggots is to seal all food scraps before putting them in the bin or, better still, putting rubbish in the freezer until bin collection day,” Ms Kurucz said.
“Flies breed in a wide range of garbage and animal waste. They are annoying pests but they can also carry disease organisms such as those responsible for gastric upsets and diarrhoeas.
“Flies transfer these organisms after picking them up from domestic garbage, spoilt food, dead animals and uncovered human and animal faeces.
“They transfer disease organisms on their feet, by regurgitating onto exposed food and by depositing faeces onto food,” Ms Kurucz said.
Wheelie bins provide perfect conditions for maggots, and with once per week collection of garbage, maggots can easily develop and crawl out of the bins at the household.
To reduce fly breeding, residents are advised to;
wrap all food scraps, including pet food and seal them in plastic bags prior to depositing in a bin. Alternatively, keep wrapped meat scraps in the freezer until bin collection day
use a kitchen tidy bin with a sealable lid and a liner for temporary waste storage, and keep inside a screened house
keeping fly screens and doors closed when preparing meals
wash out all food containers before placing them in the kitchen tidy bin, and reduce fluids in garbage as much as possible
tie all rubbish bags securely before depositing in wheelie bins. This will prevent fly/maggot entry or exit
do not place unwrapped garbage in industrial bins
place wheelie bins outside before scheduled collections. A missed collection can lead to increased fly breeding
ensure the wheelie bin lid is closed at all times
wash wheelie bins out frequently in areas with no grass and allow drying out
Media Contact: Fred McCue 0401 119 792