Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1911-05-19


anything out side Of exact science,
and that is that they have never been disputed.
There Is a unantmity Of sentiment surrounding the
onslaught on the house fly which ought either
to receive our highest Endorsement arouse our
darkest suspicion, just the spirit is apt to
incline US.
The house fly proper Musca domestica Of the
order Of the Diptera, Is grayish fly with a mouth
formed for sucking up liquid substances
It has proboscis something like the trunk Of
an elephant in miniature, and its feet term1n-
aed each by pair Of claws, between which are
less membranous arol1a or pantulae
which climb polished surfaces, and also pulvil-
lus cushion It does not bite, for that function
Is reserved for a stable fly which resembles it
closely to deceive anybody but an entomol-
ogist. Neither does 1t die upon the window pane
surrounded by the fungous efhorescence so "a
miliar to the Disguised housewife. That is the
habit of the cluster fly, which is somewhat larger
than the house fly, with a dark-colored, smooth
abdomen and a sluggish disposition.
Several other species bear a superficial ike
ness to the true house fly and are more or less
mistaken for 1t. All are so inconsiderate In num-
Der in comparison to the common pest, however,
that they may safely De disregarded In the dis
cussion.
The great breeding place of the house fly Is
horse manure. 1t will it is true, thrive to some
extent in other sorts of decaying animal and vege
table matter but its Partially for the stable rel
use is great that the vast proportion of its on
spring may be considered as originating In that
substance
The fly lays its eggs upon the manure, which
Is It's fayorte larval flood and a generation may
be bred in from ten to fourteen days. according to
the climate. There may be dozen generations
IN summer An individual fly will average 12O
eggs, and when the prevalence of horse manure
is taken into consideration, its widespread appl-
cation to farm lands in the way of FERTILIZER
In in
use upon lawns and suburban gardens, the posi-
0ities in the propagation of the fly will be read
lily seen to be past computation. 1t is even calcu-
lated that single fly laying 12O eggs, VIII pro
uuce progeny amounting to sext1ll1ons IN one
season. This probably does not take into con-
SderatiOD accidents which operate greatly 10 re-
ouce the supply
Some experiments have been made with view
TO calculating the number in which house-ny
larvae occur in manure, but no general average
can be struck. Twelve hundred house nles 10 me
pound of manure Is the result Of one observation.
Another showed 200 puparia in less than one cuoic
men Yet perhaps larvae can be 1ouno III
0Ie greater part Of manure piles.
Because of his habits the house fly IS a walk
ing arsenal of bacilli. The old notion tnat ne
was valuable as a scavenger Is untrue He VIII
prey on garbage and carry it away as part anu
parcel of his tissue, but he does not Kill the germ
De aosorbes. It has been proved that the pactefia
are not only taken into the fly and pass through
us body without any loss of their active proper
ueS but also that in all probability they muitf
Ply during their sojourn there.
These germs are deposited upon foodstuns, ana
eaung utensils pass into the human economy IL
SgUe Of ordinary care, and if they are OF a maies
, vlent type and the system which takes tneni -
Is not strong enough to resist their action, as
Ness disease and death are apt to folio" III 'heil
wake In addition. the fly also dlssemlnatee
seFns by carrying them upon his body, the cush-
'0ns OF his feet and his wings
through the researches of w. M Eaton ana =.
D. Mason It has been found that "the NUMBERS Oh
."cIeria on a single fly may range all the way
rom $50 to $500 000" No general average can 20
struck. A few million more or less will make no
N'nerence in the general result.
,6ecause of it's prevalence and its familiar asso
Sauon with man. Musca domestica has excepeon
opportunities to distribute disease-breedlng Oac-
t s,a where they will do the most harm. Ger.
. IAN genus Of mosquito disseminates malaria oul
t mosquito thrives only in localities espesia'
~'"Sa6Ae to his propagation. There 10 soOo fea