A test for repellency to non-biting flies and a comparison of repellents using Musca domestica L.

A system for testing the effect of a repellent against nonbiting flies attracted to man was developed for Musca domestica L. and Musca vetustissima Walk., and was used to compare the repellency of a range of chemicals against the former. Both arms of one person were simultaneously exposed to large numbers of the test insect in a cage, with repellent applied to a 45 cm² area on one arm, and the solvent to an identical area on the other arm. By varying the dose of repellent, a dose-to-repellency relationship was established and evaluated using probit analysis to determine 50% (RD₅₀) and 90% (RD₉₀) repellency. Both values were required to characterise a repellent. Greatest uniformity of results was obtained with even illumination of the cages from above and exclusion of side lighting. RD₅₀ and RD₉₀ values were not affected by prior exposure of the flies in a cage and did not change with time. Of the repellents tested, dipropyl isocinchomeronate was the most effective against M. domestica. The repellent effect of mixtures of the compounds was tested against M. domestica and was less than expected by summation of the components acting alone, suggesting that to minimise the total dose of chemical applied to skin, single compounds are preferable to mixtures.