Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1905-06-01

SSC7N LIZ COluluOA AOOOG ~
4 ca Domestica) is a creature
3 @ OF such secretive habits.
= that although from the
~6o~ very earliest times he has
been with us, and the most ancient
writers have mentioned and described
him. still very little was known Of his
origin and history.
1t remained for the eminent Boston
biologist. DR.. A. S. Packard, in 1878, to
make known its origin, habits and
transformations from the egg through
the larva state with it's two changes to
pupa state. then to the perfect fly.
Near the first of August the female
lays about 12O eggs of a dull gray
color. selecting fresh horse manure IA
which to deposit her eggs. and so Sc
cretes them that they are rarely seen:
it takes only twenty-four hours for
them to hatch into the first form OF
larva, a white worm one-quarter of an
inch in length and one-tenth in diane
ter. They feed on the %decaying matter
Of their environment, and two changes
or casting of skins occur before they
turn into the papa state; this change
comes very suddenly. The entire per-
Tod from the egg to the pupa state is
from three to four days. If moist food
IL wanting when in this condition they
will eat each other II thus decrease
their number. Heat and humidity
greatly assist their development, as
upon careful computation each pound
Of manur around stables and out.
houses develops under favorable condi.
tons over 1000 flies. 1t is no wonder
that where these conditions exist We
have such a veritable harvest Of the
fly pest. -s.aeAs esv~~
In the pupa state when the fly ID
about to emerge. the end of the pupa
case splits OF, making q hole through
which the fly pushes a portion of Its
head, but here it seems to encounter a
difficulty; the pupa case is too stiff and
hard to pass through. but nature mt
to its assistance. and a SOC: of bladder
like substance forms behind the head.
which swells out apparently filled with
air; it acts as a means of pushing
away the pupa case and releases tho
fly. When the fly first energies it runs
around with its wings soft. small and
baggy; it is pale and the colors arc
not set; its head rapidly expands and
the bladder formation passes away
within a few hours the wings grow
and harden. it is now a perfect fly.
The Whole time FROM the depositins
of the egg to the perfect fly is not over
ten days in duration. Many persons
who observe small flies in midsummer
suppose they are the young. but such
is not the case; they are dies that are
imperfectly nourished in the larvae
and pups states, and do not attain
full size. in fact, they are the dwarfs
of their race. The male fly differs
from the female in the front of the
head between the eyes. being at least
one-third narrower, though in size the
female is rather smaller.
In the pupa state they are often fed
upon by the larvae Of some of the
beetles, notably that Of the carpet bee
tie. whose pupa. the dreaded buffalo
"moth," will attack the young fly in
the pupa case and eating it possess the
case for itself.
Adult flies like most other creatures
have parasites of minute size that prey
presenting small red specks over th.
bHdy Of the fly.
The fly hibernates in winter, bu
with his usual secretive habit it is very
difficult to find him in his winter Quar
tiers. With the first chill of autumn
the flies feeling the cold. seek temper
airy warmth in houses, and clusterins
Of walls and other places. They ar,
then sluggish and not so active as il
the warm weather. However. they d,
not make 4 permanent stay indoors
but on the first mild, sunny day. seel
the windows to get out and End thei
permanent wintcr hiding place; man,
prefer to make their homes In th
roots Of grass on lawns where the
hide themselves so efectually that til
Ice and snow of winter does not dc
stroy them in their alternating state
Ii In the first warm days of sprin
when the snow is gone and the gras
on the lawns becomes dry and warn
long before the yellow dandelion show
It's head, a close observer may see nun
bers of flies crawling up on the gras
to get the welcome sunshine, thei
wings standing out stiff and useles.
but they soon acquire the power q
flight i'll the warm rays of the sun.
great many days, however, elapse b.
fore they appear in the homes of mel
where they are such unwelcome visi
ocs.
In recent years the medical profe
sion have demonstrated that while til
fly itself does not propagate disease
: is one Of the most industrious carrier
OF disease germs which by contact a,
!, here to his feet, hairy legs AID bod
distributing them to innocent victims
: II every housekeeper could know a
:, these interesting facts which ha,
a never Before been brought to their a
7 tention they would realize the impo
4 taEco Of securing the very best fly e
;. tcIilinator.