American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-29
THE FLY-BREEDING PLACES.

united states.
The breeding place Of the fly is
wherever filth, especially decayed an
imal tissue is allowed to accumulate
here the eggs are laid, the magots and
larvae Matched and fed and the adults
developed. The foot of the fly contains
a sticky secretion which picks up par
ticles of filth, carrying them to such
places as they may see fit to light.
Sometimes on the baby's face. Some
times on the butter or other places
where the germs are sure to find their
way to human beings, carrying disease
from one place to another. Always
seeking the sick room, especially IL
1ecayed tissue be the nature of the
sickness. They are said to carry mil
lions of germs and never to be without
some. There are several different kind
of flies, different in size, color and In
shape, but similar in the number OF
germs they carry and in the choice OF
their breeding places. We have the
common house fly and two specie OF
the stable fly, which are very similar
in appearance, and all breed in horse
N COW manure, decayed vegetation
as old straw and grass heaps and hui
man excrement.
We also have three specia of the blue
bottle fly, which breed especially in
decayed animal matter. These are re-
sponsible for the eggs or magots we
find sometimes on meat we have been
careless in setting away.
We have a very small house fly
which is often taken for the young OF
the common house fly. This specia
breeds in ~decayed vegetables, In ex-
creta of animals and in dead insects.
We have still another smaller, Jet
black specie know mas the window fly
which breeds in the cracks of the floor
the larvae is a white thread like crea-
ture which feed on other insects.
Other specias are the fruit fly, found
in decaying fruits and we sometimes
call them gnats on account of their
size.
OF all varieties the ommon house
fly is most aboundant and in localities
where there are no stables will be
found breeding in slops or fermenting
vegetable matter, as hops, ensilage or
brans.
Many places have organized against
the fly and some cities have done a
great amount toward killing off the
pests. Cincinnati is said to be almost
flyless.
The number Of eggs an individual
fly lays at one time averages from 100
to 120, and a single female will lay
four such patches, these In two weeks
are Matched and developed into full
grown flies, ready to reproduce. This
fact accounts for the vast numbers,
especially in localities where appropri-
ate larvae food is found in such album
dance.
The observations from Washington
show one quarter pound of horse man
ure to contain 100 larvae and 146 pup
aria-this would mean about 1900 flies
to the pound. (This is not supposed
to be an average)
A fly killed in early spring has been
estimated to be one octillion, ninety
six septillion, one hundred eighty-one
seXtillion, two hundred forty quintil-
lion, three hundred twenty quadrillion
seven hundred twenty trillion, by fall
Il 1896, 1871 ,240, 800, 100, 700, 900, OOO, 0OO)
While the manure piles seem to be
the favorite breeding places of the fly
and to furnish the most thriving food
for the larvae, We must take special
precautions about our chicken yards
and pig pens If we have them.
Garbage car should be kept closed
and emptied frequently, at least once
a week.
All tin cans should be carted away
often. | have found old grain sacks
convenient resceptacles for cant and
refuse. This saves unnecessary hand
ling and they are ready to throw on
the wagon when an opportunity is Of
fered to have them taken away. No
decayed vegetables or fruit should be
left lying around. Old meat rinds or
bones should be burned and dead fowls
or animals buried, as this affords a
home for legions. Burn all refuse
about the place II possible and safety
is assured. Manure piles should be
treated with chloride OF lime or kero-
sene, or better still, keep In a screened
pit.
Next to the manure piles the great
est %nuisances are the out door closets.
These are great fly producers and flies
from these places spread intestinal
and other diseases besides the I'M
speakable filth carried away. These
should also be treated with kerosene.
Directions for building sanitary out
door closets are furnished In Farmers
Bulletin No. 463.
Much precaution should be taken
about the sick rooms-especially In ty-
phoid or tuberculosis. These places
seem a special delight.
No dirt or decaying matter should
be allowed to accumulate as this fur
nishes a ~favorite breeding place.
While we may never be completely