Vellore Corpn to use insects to fight flies

The move follows flies becoming a health hazard in areas where degradable waste has accumulated.

According to Corporation Health Officer Manivannan, the presence of a large number of flies in some of the 57 solid waste management centres, operated by the Corporation to segregate the collected city garbage, is the reason for the proposed trial.

Also areas like Nethaji market where huge amounts of food and vegetable waste accumulated would also be covered.

Manivannan told DT Next that, “We got a box of the insect Tetrastichus Howardii from Chennai and plan to use it at some of the worst-affected segregation centres and the Nethaji market for a week to see the response. Based on the response we will procure more of the insect for use all over the city.”

The insect Tetrastichus Howardii was initially imported from the Philippines to South Africa and Brazil to fight and control the stem borer pest in commercial sugarcane crop there and was apparently found to be successful. As solid waste management centres handle tonnes of garbage, flies are nuisance to workers before its segregation. Hence this insect will be used if the initial trials are successful.

Asked if the same had been tried out in other Corporations, Manivannan said, “We asked Tirunelveli Corporation about a similar experiment they conducted in their area and they affirmed that it worked. Hence, we plan to try it out in Vellore too.”

On how the insect would eradicate flies Manivannan said “they eat the maggots of flies and thus end the nuisance”.

However, sources revealed that the easiest way to kill maggots in domestic compost was to pour lime, salt or vinegar on the garbage.