Construction of Parc Boxes
The Mediterranean Fruit Fly Exclusion Program constructs and repairs all of its’ own PARC boxes. Plastic RubberMaid containers are purchased by the Mediterranean Fruit Fly Exclusion Program and employees begin to modify the containers. Sections of the side and lid of the containers are removed and replaced with screening. The screens on the sides of the PARC boxes are for ventilation and the screen placed in the lid is for feeding purposes.
Employees use heat guns and hand-held rollers to melt the screens into the plastic containers. The employees also further modify the lids of the plastic containers by securing foam gaskets around the interior parameter of the lid to allow for a tighter fit. Young adult Medflies are very clever at managing to crawl out of the smallest gaps.
