Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-06-01

little was known OF his origin and
history.
It remained for the eminent Boston
biologist. DIT. A. S. Packard. in 1873,
to make known bis origin, habits and /
transformations from the egg through /
the iarya state with It's two changes /
to the pupa state, then to the perfect
fly.
Near the first Of August the female
lays about 100 eggs Of a duh gray
color selecting fresh horse manure in
which to deposit her eggs. and so Sc.
cret6s 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 d.
ameter. They feed on the decaying
matter Of their environment, and two
changes or casting Of skins occur be-
fore they turn into the pupa state; this
change comes very suddenly. The en-
tire period from the egg to the pupa
state is from three to four days. II
moist food is wanting when in this
condition they will eat each other and
thus decrease their number. Heat and
humidity greatly assist their develop-
ment, as upon careful computation
each pound Of manure around stables
and outhouses develops under favora.
BILE conditions over one thousand flies
1t is no wonder that where these con-
dltions exist, we have such a veritable
harvest Of the fly pest.
In the pupa state when the fly is
about to emerge. the end OF the puma
case splits of, making a hole through
which the fly pushes portion Of its
head; but here 1t seems to encounter n
difficulty; the prpa case is too stlff and
hard to pass through, but nature comes
to Its assistance, and sort Of bladder
like substance forms behind the head.
which swells out apparently filed with
air; It acts as means Of pushing away
the pupa case and releases the fly.
When the fly first energies it runs
around with its wings soft, small and
baggy; 1t Is pale and the coiors are
not set; Its head rapidly expands and
the bladder formation passes away
within few hours the wings grow and
harden. It is now Il perfect fly.
The whole time from the depositiua
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 sucb
y NOT tho case. they are dies that ara
lmperiectiy nonrished in the lnrras
and pupae 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
Dne-third narrower, though In size the
female is rather smaller
In the pupa state they are often fed
Hpon by the larvae of some of the
beetles, notably that Of the CARPET
beetle, whose pupa, the dreaded buff
falo moth" will attack the young
" in the pupa case and eating it pos
sess the case for itself
Adult files, like most other creatures,
have parasites OF minute size that prey
upon them: these car often be seen as
PRESENTING small red specks over the
body Of the fly.
Another enemy In the form Of fun
gus often attacks the fly In the early
autumn. This makes its appearance
as a white swelling and the white
spores Of the disease can be seen pene-
trating the body Of the fly, which II
finally distends and ruptures.
The fly hibernates in winter, but with
his usual secretiye habit, 1t is very Diff
ficult to find him In his winter quar-
tiers. With the first chill of autumn
the files feeling the cold, seek tenn
porary warmth In houses. and cluster
Ing together form punches In the cor
ners Of walls and other places. They
are then sluggish and not so active as
In the warm weather. However, they
do not make permanent stay indoors.
put on the arst mild. sunny day, seek
the windows to grr-6dt ana fnd mar
permanent winter hiding place; many
prefer to make their homes In the roots
OF grass on lawns where they hide
so effectuRlIy that the ice
and snow Of winter Goes not destroy
them in their alternating state. II In
the first warm days of spring when the
snow is gone and the grass on the
lawns becomes dry and warm. long be-
fore the yellow dandellon shows its
head, close observer may see num-
bers Of flies crawling up on the grass
to get the welcome sunshine. their
wings standing out stiff and useless;
but they soon acquire the power Of
flight in the warm rays Of the sun.
great many days, however, elapse be-
fore they appear in the homes of men.
where they are such unwelcome Wis
itors.
In recent years, the medical profes
sion have demonstrated that while the
fly itself does not propagate disease, IL
is one Of the most industrious carriers
Of disease germs which by contact ad-' |
here to his feet, hairy legs and body,
them to innocent victims.
II every house-keeper could know all
these interesting facts which have
never before been brought to their at.
tention, they could realiYe the i'm.
portance of securing the very best iy
hpnarirau Efaa cnart-,.,-.