The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1911-05-18

and that is that they have never been disputed
There is unanimity of sentiment surrounding the
onslaught on the house fly which ought either
to receive our highest Endorsement or arouse our
darkest suspicion, just the spirit is apt to
incline us.
The house fly proper, Musca domestca, of the
order OF the Diptera Is grayish fly with mouth
formed for sucking up liquid substances
1t has proboscis something like the trunk Of
an elephant in miniature, and it's feet are termin
ated each by a pair of claws, between which are
more or less membranous arolia pantulae
which climb polished surfaces, and also pulvil-
lus or cushion 1t does not bite, for that function
Is reserved for stable fly which resembles it so
closely as to deceive anybody but an entomol-
ogist. Neither does it die upon the window pane
surrounded by the fungous eflorescence so ia
mlllar 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 sluggish disposition.
Several other species bear a superficial like.
ness to the true house fly and are more or less
mistaken for 1t. All are inconsiderate in mum.
Der In comparison to the common pest, however,
that they may safely be disregarded in the dis
cusson.
The great breeding place Of the house fly is,
horse manure. 1t will, 1t is true thrive to some
extent in other sorts of decaying animal and vege.
table matter, but it's Partially for the stable ref
use is so great that the vast proportion of it's off
spring may be considered as originating in that
substance
The fly lays Its eggs upon the manure, which
is its favorite larval flood, and generation may
be bred in from ten to fourteen days. according to
the climate There may be a dozen generations
In a summer An individual fly will average 100
eggs, and VIXEN the prevalence of horse manure
Is taken into consideration it's widespread appli-
cation to farm lands in the way of fertilizer
Its presence in piles in or near city stables, it's
use upon lawns and suburban gardens, the posi-
10 nf no f1yu ho
lily seen to be past computation. 1t is even calcu.
lated that single fly, laying 100 eggs, will pro-
duce a progeny amounting to sextillions in one
season. This probably does not take into con-
sideration accidents which operate greatly to re.
duce the supply.
Some experiments have been made with view
to calculating the number in which house-hy
larvae occur In manure, but no 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 in
the greater part Of manure piles.
Because of his habits the house fly is a walk
ing arsenal of bac 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 not 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 multi
ply during their sojourn there
These germs are deposited upon foodstuffs, and
eating utensils, pass into the human economy in
spite OF ordinary care, and if they are of malev-
client type and the system which takes them in
is not strong enough to resist their action dis
tress disease and death are apt to follow in their
wake. In addition, the fly also dsseminates
germs by carrying them upon his body the cush-
ions of his feet and his wings.
Through the researches of W. M. Eaton and G.
J. Mason it has been found that "the numbers of
bacteria on a single fly may range all the way
from $50 to 100000" No general average can be
struck. A few million more or less will make no
difference in the general result
Because of its prevalence and it's familiar asso-
citation with man, Musca domestica has exception
al opportunities to distribute diseasebreeding bac-
terra where they will do the most harm. Ger.
tain genus of mosquito disseminates malaria but
the mosquito thrfves only in localities especially
"Yorable to his propagation. There is good rea.