The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-05-30
HABITS OF THE HOUSE FLY.
u.roI0 sorners. NJ. A., Tells Whence Ne
Comes, whittier He Goes.

The common house fly (Musca Do
rosfina) is a creature OF such secretive
sabIts. that although from the very
sqrlest times he has been with us, and
,be most ancient writer's have men
toned and described him, still very
p,,le was known of his origin and
history.
II remained for the eminent Boston
hIoloeist, DR.. A. s. Packard, in 1878.
"a make known his origin, habits and
transformations from the egg through
,he larva state with its two changes
70 The pupa state, then TO the perfect
fy
Near the first of August the female
hys about 100 eggs of dull gray
color. selecting fresh horse manure in
which to deposit her eggs, and so Sc.
cretes them that they are rarely seen;
n takes only twenty-four hours for
them TO hatch into the first form of
arva. white worm one-quarter OF
m inch in length and one-tenth in di.
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-
fire 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-
bic conditions over one thousand flies
1t is 10 wonder that where these con-
dtlons exist, We have such a verltable
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, ut here it seems to encounter
difficulty; the pupa case is too stiff 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 filled with
air: Ii acts rs means of pushing away
the pupa case and releases the fly
When the fly first emerges it 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 few hours the wings grow and
& ge nov. n ,,arfaot
The whole time from the deposltine
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 flies that are
mperfectly nourisbed in the larvae
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
onethird 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
ny in the pupa case and eating it pos
sess 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
as white swelling and the white
spores of the disease can be seen pene-
tratng the body of the fly, which it
finally distends and ruptures.
The fly hibernates in winter, but with
bis usual secretive habit, it is very diff
tcult to find him in his winter quar-
ters. With the first chill of autumn
the flies 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 q permanent stay indoors
but 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
and snow of winter Goes not destroy
them in their alternating state. If in
tie 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 Wing up OH the grass
to get the welcome sunshine. their
wings standing out stiff and useless;
but they soon acquire the power OF
night IN the warm rays of the sun. A
great many days. however. elapse be-
Tore they appear in the homes of men,
where they are such unwelcomc Wis
itors.
In recent years, the medical profes-
sion have demonstrated that while the
ny itself does not propagate disease. II
Is one OF the most industrious carriers
OF disease germs which by contact ad.
mere 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 at.
tention, they would realize the i'm
portance of securing the very best Ay
e1terminator.