1College of Agricultural Engineering, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641 003, Tamil Nadu (India).
2Zonal Research Centre, College of Agricultural Engineering, TNAU. Coimbatore-641 003, TN (India).
3Department of Farm Machinery, College of Agricultural Engineering, TNAU, Coimbatore-641 003. TN (India).
A study was undertaken to investigate methods to control housefly, Musca domestica Linn., by suction method. Horizontal and vertical trapping chambers were developed as attachments to a 230 VAC, 900 W suction device (vacuum cleaner). Air velocity and the suction pressure increased by 11.11 and 66.67 per cent, respectively, by removing the collecting bag from the suction device. Efficacy of the suction device with the attachments was evaluated in trapping insects when 50, 70 and 10 g of jaggery, fish meal and sugar solution were used as attractants at 10, 20 and 30 min intervals. The results revealed higher efficacy of the horizontal trapping chamber when compared with the vertical trapping chamber and also in comparison to the efficacy of the suction device without the attachments.
