Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-05-20

anything out side of an exact science
and that is that they have been disputed.
There is unanimity of sentiment surrounding the
onslaught on the house fly which ought either
to receive our highest Endorsement
darkest suspicion, just the spirit is apt to
incline
The house fly proper Musca domestica, of the
order of the Diptera, is graysh fly with mouth
formed for sucking up liquid substances
1t has a proboscs something like the trunk of
elephant in miniature and its feet termin-
ated each by a pair of claws between which
more less membranous arolia plantulae
which climb polished surfaces and also a pulvil-
lus or cushion 1t does not bite for that function
is reserved a stable fly which resembles it so
closely to deceive anybody but an entomol-
ogist Neither does it die upon the window pane
surrounded by the fungous efhorescence ia
miliar to the disguised housewife That is the
habit of the cluster fly, which is somewhat larger
than the house fly, with dark-colored, smooth
abdomen, and a sluggish disposition.
Several other species bear superficial like
to the true house fly and are more or less
mistaken for it, All inconsiderate in
Der in comparison to the common pest, however.
that they may safely be disregarded in the dis
cussion
The great breeding place of the house fly is
horse manure. 1t WILL it is true, thrive to
extent in other sorts of decaying animal and vege-
table matter, but its Partially for the stable ref
is great that the vast proportion of its off
spring may be considered originating in that
substance
is its favorite larval flood, a generation may
be bred in from ten to fourteen days, according to
the climate. There be a dozen generations
in a summer. An individual fly will average 12O
eggs and when the prevalence of horse manure
is taken into consideration its widespread appli-
cation to farm lands in the way of fertilizer
its presence in piles in near city stables its
use upon lawns and suburban gardens the posi-
bilities in the propagation of the fly will be
fly seen to be past computation 1t is even calcu-
lated that single fly, laying 12O eggs, will pro
duce progeny amounting sextillions in one
season. This probably does take into con-
slderation accidents which operate greatly to
duce the supply.
Some experiments have been made with a view
to calculating the number in which househy
larvae occur in manure, but general average
can be struck. Twelve hundred house flies to the
pound of manure is the result of one observation
Another showed 200 puparia in less than one cubic
inch Yet perhaps no larvae can be found
the greater part of manure piles.
Because of his habits the house fly is a walk
ing arsenal of bacilli- The old notion that he
was valuable as a scavenger is untrue. He will
prey on garbage and carry it away as part and
parcel of his tissue, but he does kill the germ
he absorbes. 1t has been proved that the bacteria
are not only taken into the fly and pass through
its body without any loss of their active proper
ties but also that in all probability they
ply during their sojourn there.
These germs deposited upon foodstuffs and
eating utensils. pass into the human economy in
spite of ordinary care, and if they of a malev-
olent type and the system which takes them n
is not strong enough resist their action.
tress. disease and death apt to follow their
wake: In addition. the fly also disseminates
germs by carrying them upon. his body. the cush-
ions of his feet and his wings
Through the researches of w. NJ. Eaton and G.
J. Mason it has been found that the numbers of
bacteria on single fly may range all the way
from $50 to 6.600000.'' No general average can be
struck A few million less will make no
difference in the general result.
Because of its prevalence and its familiar
citation with man, Musca domestica has exception
al opportunities distribute disease-breeding BAG
terra where they will do the most harm GER
tain genus of mosquito disseminates malaria but
the mosquito thrives only in localities especially
favorable to his propagation There is good rea-