c. Dress defensively. You may prefer simply to cover up well. Try wearing long garments, or clothes that are tight at the wrists and ankles. You will still want to reapply repellent to the feet, ankles, hands and neck. Measures Indoors a. Treat window screens. Treating your mosquito screening can provide much relief. Do this by carefully and sparingly painting or spraying your screens with an insecticide such as a 5% malathion mixture, a 3% methoxychlor mixture (such as Curtis Screen Pruf), a repellent, or simply deodorized kerosene. This measure is not recommended for areas where food is prepared or served, or where infants, the ill or aged are confined. Perhaps the best place to try this is on enclosed porches. It is necessary to take the screens out of the windows to treat them properly. Such treatment can give protection up to a month or more, especially if screens are shaded from direct sun and protected from rain. Be sure your screens are in good repair and tight-fitting. b. Physical exclusion: You don't necessarily have to be a kill-joy to opt for air-conditioning in a sealed room -- it's effective! However, an alternative is to install 32 x 32 mesh window screen- ing, instead of the conventional 14 or 16 mesh screening. In com- bination with a fan to maintain air movement, this fine mesh approach has been known to work when the problem is persistent and severe. Even without special screening, a ceiling fan will pre- vent the flies from moving freely, and has been shown to be rather successful in suppressing biting activity if operated in bedrooms. c. Trapping and diversion. Our most abundant sand fly species is quite strongly attracted to light, especially to an ultra- violet (black-light) source. Thus, some commercially available electronic trap designs may be of limited value in diverting and trapping those sand flies within 20-30 feet of your home, especially if no other strong lights are close by. One drawback is that the traps could draw in more flies than otherwise would have come. But if you are determined to try one anyway, (better more than one!), be sure to avoid the electrocutor-type of trap -- they are not designed to function effectively on sand flies and other small gnats manufacturers' claims to the contrary. The best type of light trap incorporates a suction fan and some means of keeping the flies in the trap -- usually a container for a liquid, such as water. The ultimate form of diversion seems to be provided by the moon -- a full moon tends to disrupt flight activity! Control of Adult Flies. Out-of-doors, it is largely a waste of effort and materials to treat the air on a small scale against adult sand flies. Even on a community-wide scale, aerial spraying is limited to at best 24-hour control, due to reinfestation from t Hot t at. Croi by ^eqea Box 248 Christiansted, St. Croix U.S. V.I 00820 Member of r Tel: 809-773-0385 Telex: CRUZTEL 3471017 untreated areas. Indoors, some useful but short-term results can be achieved if the level of attack becomes intolerable. Aerosols containing relatively safe pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide provide quick knockdown action. The locally available "Cobra Coil" also contains pyrethrins, which are released for the one to three hours the coil smolders after it is ignited. However, this smoke can produce allergic reactions, and stinging of the eyes, and is not recommended for routine use. Dichlorvos strips and aerosol spray (as in Vapona) is effective but must be very cautious- ly used. Always read the label instructions carefully before using any pesticide, because the label provides legally required specific Your Inter - Island Flight Specialists YOU are important to us at Coral Air! We care for our business travelers who use us regularly-we care for our island friends who travel between our islands-we care for our tourist friends from all over the world. The islands are almost completely depen- dent on air transportation, and short commuter flights are their connection. Our modern, effi- cient fleet of aircraft make these island "hops" even shorter. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL St. Croix (809) 778-3320 San Juan (809) 791-0676 St. Thomas (809) 774-7386 or see your Travel Agent CORAL AIR WELCOMES YOU Come fly with us!