Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-03-25

INFORMATION CONCERNING FLIES
Although the common house fly is
closely allied to our social life, few peo-
pie know its history. Where does the
fly deposit its eggs, and why do we
never see them?" is q question fire.
quently asked-a question which this
article is designed to answer satisfac-
torily. The mother fly never deposits
her eggs in the house; but if there are
any old heaps of rubbish in the form of
decaying vegetables about a place, she
deposits her eggs there. If you desire
to see the entire operation, and watch
the growth of this insect from the egg
to maturity, place a quantity of grain
and vegetables together in o box, and
put them where they will be kept
moist-1imply moist, not wst-and de-
cay slowly. The fly will seek this filthy
mass, and deposit her eggs therein. By
an occasional visit to this depository, one
AbieA e11C Ill Ss5Sc. IL
to one hundred eggs are frequently laid
at one time, and the old fly usually re-
mains SO quiet during the operation that
close and inquisitive spectator is not
likely to disturb her. During warm
weather these eggs will hatch in a very
few days, each producing a minute,
cylindrical white grub, divided into thir-
teen rings. This grub, or, more prop
erly, larva, devours the surroundings
that is, the decaying vegetable matter
and consumes any filth which accumu-
lates around the premises. The grubs
grow rapidly in their luxurious sur
roundings, and are, when full grown,
nearly or quite three-quarters of an inch
long, and about an eighth in diameter
In few days more they assume what is
termed the pupa state, becoming shorter
and thicker, the outer skin assuming a
brown color, and becoming quite tough.
In this state the insect neither eats nor
has the power of locomotion but it
does not remain long In this condition,
and if it is examined by holding it up to
the light the fly can be distinctly seen
within. To see fly born is an interest
ing spectacle. The best method to OBJ
serve this event in the life of our great
and ever-present domestic friend is to
gather few of the pupa and put them
i'll small, clear vial, which must be
placed where it can be frequently seen,
for a dozen flies may appear in a few
seconds. In emerging from the pupal
case the fly separates circular piece
from the end, leaving it attached at one
side, thereby forming, as it were, hinge
to the door, which is pushed open, and
the fly crawls out full grown and perfect.
The wings may be little lax at first, but
they soon dry, and our house fly is
ready to perform his or her allotted
labors in this busy world. Now we wish
the reader to observe particularly that
flies are born of full size, and just as
large as they ever will be; in other
words, flies do not grow as flies, but en-
largement or growth occurs in previous
stages, and not in the perfect or winged
state. Small flies are distinct species
from the large ones, and always remain
small. Millions of the latter pass
through the winter in q perfect state,
hiding In warm kitchens, cellars, and
similar favorable situations. The eggs
laid late in the fall remain either as de-
posted, or in the larval state, until
spring.