View report page

217
On request from the Borough and Greater London Council
Housing Departments, dust chutes and containers in the multistorey flats are treated with Gammexane. (Sprinkling of Gammexane
powder into dustbins subsequent to their being emptied has been
discontinued—Health Committee decision 2nd June, 1965.)
Disinfestation of Verminous Premises.—D.D.T. in kerosene
continues to give good results in dealing with verminous premises
when alternated with other vermicides such as Dieldrin Concentrate
or Lindane to counteract the development of organismal resistance.
During the year the department dealt with 102 cases of dirty
and verminous premises, and the disinfestation staff sprayed 99
rooms and contents. In 2 cases the bedding and effects were removed
to the Council's disinfecting station for treatment by steam or
formaldehyde.
Of other pests which necessitated the treatment of 182 rooms
and 39 external areas, the following initiated the greater number
of complaints.
Ants. Ants carry no disease but their presence in human
foodstuffs is objectionable.
Foods of a relatively high sugar content are particularly attractive to ants and the insects are prepared to go to great lengths in
order to obtain a sufficiency for their community.
In the main, the 70 complaints received concerned either the
black garden ant (Lasius niger) or the yellow meadow ant
(L. flavis), the workers of which will gain access to houses through
cracks in the walls or floors, over sills or through window frames
in search of food. Sixty-six treatments involving 54 rooms and 59
external areas were carried out to combat the reported nuisances.
One of the commonest of ants, the very small red House or
Pharaoh's ant (Monomorium pharaonis) was also the cause of a
number of complaints.
This species, being of tropical origin, is incapable of breeding
in England without artificial heat. A temperature of approximately
80°F is considered to be ideal for its propagation and ipso facto it
is found infesting bakehouses, restaurants, hospitals and houses,
especially in larders and kitchens and nests may be found behind
wall plasters, behind pipes or ovens, in heating ducts and under
floor coverings and foundations.
As in previous years this pest was encountered at two of the
large hospitals in the Borough where, despite intensive investigation
the sources of infestation were not located.
The total number of treatments carried out in respect of this
ant was 18.