Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-05-31
HABITS OF THE HOUSE FLY.
Harold 6orusrs, M. A., Tells whence He
Genes. whittier He Goes.

habits, that although from the very
earliest times he has been with us, and
the most ancient writers have men-
4 toned 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 1873.
to make known his origin, habits and
transformation from the egg through
the iafva state with its two changes
to the pupa state, then to the perfect
fly.
Near the first of August the female
lays about 100 eggs Of n dull gray
color. selecting fresh horse manure In
which to deposit her eggs, and SO Sc
cfetes them that they are rarely seen;
It takes only twenty.four hours for
them to bntch into the first form OF
larva. a white worm one.quarter OF
an inch iii length and one-tenth IN d.
anieter. They feed on the decaylng
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 ell
tire period from the egg to the pupa
state is from three to four days. If
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 fatora-
bic conditions over one thousand files
It Is no wonder that where these con-
dltlons exist, We have such veritable
harvest of the fly pest.
In the pupa state when the fly Is
about to emerge, the end Of the pupa
case splits Off, making hole through
which the fly pushes a portion Of its
head; but here it seems to encounter n
difficulty; the pupa case is too stiff and
hard to pass through. but nature comes
10 its assistance, and sort Of bladder
like substance forms behind the heed.
which swells out apparently filled with
mir; It acts as a medhs Of pushing away
the pupa case and releases the fly.
When the fly first energies 1t runs
around with its wings soft, small and
baggy; it is pale and the colors are
not set: its head rapidly expands and
the bladder formation passes away
within a few hours the wings grow and
harden. 1t is now perfect fly.
The whole time from the depositing
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 tho young, but such
is not the case, they are flies that are
imperfectly nourished in the larvae
and pupae states, and do not attain
full size, in fact, they arc 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
beetle, whose pupa, the dreaded buff
falo "moth," will attack the young
fly in the pupa case and eating 1t pos
Eess the case for itself.
Adult flies, like most other creatures,
have parasites of minute size that prey
upon them; these can 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
MS a white swelling and the white
spores of the disease can be seen pcne-
trating the body of the fly, which 1t
finally distends and ruptures.
The fly hibernates in winter, but with
his usual sccretlve habit, 1t is very diff
fic,lt to find him in his winter quar-
tiers. With the first chill Of autumn
tho flies feeling the cold seek tenn.
p0rary warmth in houses, and cluster
ing together FORM punches in the cor
ners of walls and other places. They
nre then sluggish and not so active as
in the warm weather. However, they
do not make 4 permanent stay indoors.
hut on the first mild, sunny day, seek
the windows to get out and find their
permanent winter hiding place; many
prefer to make their homes in the roots
of grass OH lawns where they hide
themselves so effectually that the ice
aud snow Of winter Goes not destroy
them in their alternating state. If 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 dandelion shows its
head. close observer may see num-
bers of flies era wiling up OIL 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. A
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 profess
sion have demonstrated that while the
fly itself does not propagate disease. II
liz one of the most Industrious carriers
of disease germs which by contact adj
here to his feet. hairy legs and body.
distributing them to innocent victims.
II every house-keeper could know all
these interesting facts which have
never before been brought to their al
tention, they would realize the I'M
portance Of securing the very best q!
exterminator.