Lamp
Replacement Recommendations
"Replace
Fly Trap Bulbs once each year, in the spring!"
This Rule of was derived from the knowledge that Bulbs do, in
fact, deteriorate over time , combined with customers observations that
"our traps are not working as well as they did last year", and
subsequent research. More specific, saying that insect attractant bulbs
have an average, effective life of nine and one half months.
Recommending "spring" replacement simply
insures traps are operating at their best during the summer insect
season. This recommendation has been copied by most everyone in the
industry and is routinely quoted as some sort of absolute truth. It's
time tested to satisfy the vast majority of circumstances, but it is not
an unquestionable fact.
Perhaps,
attractant lamps need to be replaced more often where there is dire need
for top trap performance, in hospitals, perhaps, where
cross-contamination is a concern, or in laboratories where intravenous
solutions are manufactured, perhaps more frequently in climates with
year-round insect problems?
They could be replaced less often in facilities where
there are relatively few flies to worry about, or where the fly season
is short with a good winter, or where controlling them is not considered
important. I hope this is someplace where I don't eat.
If you're experimentally inclined, consider
replacing half your bulbs after one year. Then, compare how the new
bulbs perform relative to the older ones. Swap bulb positions, be as
fair as possible, and let us know what you find.
You will find, this (time tested)
rule of thumb fits the vast majority of circumstances:
"Replace insect attractant bulbs once each
year in the spring!"
Flies feed and reproduce on filth,
decaying matter, and water. Flies are transmitters of disease primarily
because
they feed on human and animal wastes. The dangerous bacteria present in
these
wastes stick to the mouth, footpads and hairs of flies and may then be
deposited in feed intended for animal consumption. Fly feces, which
contain
disease-bearing organisms, can also contaminate human food. Flies
defecate
every four to five minutes. And since flies have no teeth and must take
their
nourishment in liquid form, they spit on solid food and let it dissolve
before
consuming. Fly spittle, or vomit. is swarming with bacteria and
contaminates
feed and areas where feed is stored. A fly can infect feed/food by
merely
landing on it.
Flies can enter a building that has openings not much larger
than the head of a pin. Although they rarely travel very far from where
they
are hatched, flies may be lured to the sources of attractive odors.
Flies may
also be carried long distances by air current.
One female fly can produce
thousands of offspring in a single breeding season. Flies have favorite
resting
places. They are especially fond of places protected from the wind and
on edges
such as garbage can rims and electric wires Flies carry bacteria that
can cause
many diseases known and unknown to man. One fly can carry over 33
million
disease-causing microorganisms on the inner and outer surfaces of its
body.
There are over 87,000 different fly species. The fly is one of the
fastest
flying insects. A fly's vision is sharp for only 24 to 36 inches. One
successful hatch can result in well over 2 million flies. One season can
breed
as much as 25 generations.
The common
fly is such a pesky pest. But did you know that it carries over 1
million different bactera
on its body? Flies eat puke basically. They vomit on whatever it is that
they
want to eat and then suck it up with their tongue. You see flies don't
have teeth
and they vomit their stomach liquid on whatever they want to eat. The
stomach
fluid then liquefies the solid portion and the fly laps it up.
Flies also have Velcro feet that they use for hanging
upside-down and claws
that they use on level ground. A fly has an adhesive
solution that it shoots out of its claws to walk upside-down. As it
walks
hanging upside down the gunk solution attracts germ critters that hang
on to
the gunk and get a free ride.
The common housefly uses the hair on its legs and feet
like people use their
tongues. The hairs tell the fly if wherever they land is good for a
meal. Then
the fly pukes on the area it wants to liquefy and slurps it up with its
tongue.
The fly sees the world as a great big buffet
restaurant and it is constantly
retching, and licking it all up.
