The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-07-03
CRUSADE AGAINST FLIES.

ton of uncleanliness, insanitary
conditions and improper disposal OF
substances in which they breed. They
are not only annoying; they are ac-
tually dangerous to health, because
they may carry disease germs to ex-
posed foods
1t is therefore important to know
where and how they breed, and to
apply such knowledge in combating
them. This article gives informa-
ton on this subject.
How to Eliminate the Fly.
Antifly crusades have been very
numerous in recent years, and some
have been noteworthy both in meth
DDS and in results. However, it will
not be amiss' here to emphasize the
Importance of concerted, organized
effort on the part of whole commun-
tiles, not only cities, but suburban
and rural neighborhoods as we'll Bv
the most painstaking care one may
prevent all fly breeding on his prem
ises but it will avail him little il
his neighbors are not equally care
full. Some sort of cooperation is ne
cessary. One of the first and most
important elements in any antifly
crusade is vigorous and continued
educational campaign. 1t has been
the experience of those who have
undertaken such crusades that peo-
pie generally regard the fly as a
somewhat harmless nuisance and
that the first work of the campaign
was to bring the people to realiza-
ton of the dangers from flies and
the possibility of getting rid of them.
In the educational campaign every
possible means of publicity can be
employed, including newspapers, lee
lures, moving pictures, posters, hand
bills, cartoons, instructions in the
schools, etc.
Multiply Rapidly.
The number of eggs laid by an in
dividual fly at one time undoubtedly
n large, probably averaging about
120, and as single female will lay
at least two and possibly four such
patches, the enormous numbers in
which the insects occur are thus
plainly accounted for, especially
when the abundance and universal
occurrence of appropriate larval food
is considered. The eggs are deposit
ed below the surface in the cracks
and interstices of the manure, sew
eral females usually depositing in
one spot, so that the eggs commonly |
are found in large clusters in Sc
f41 nj ~ q
pile, where a high degree Of heat i
is maintained by the fermentation |
below The eggs usually hatch in
less than "a hours. Under the most |
favorable conditions of temperature
and moisture the egg state may last
hardly more than eight hours. The
maggots which issue from the eggs
are very small and transparent. They
grow rapidly, completing the growth
of the larva stage in four or five
days. The larval period may be
prolonged greatly by low tempera
ture or by dryness or scarcity of the
Iarval food. AS the larvae attain full
size they gradually assume a creamy
white color. Just before pupation
they become very restless and mi
CRATE from their feeding ground in
search of favorable place in which
to pass the pupa stage. They will
often congregate at the edges of
manure piles near the ground or bur-
row into the soil beneath, or they
may crawl considerable distances
away from the pile to pupate in the
ground or in loose material under
the edges or stones, boards. etc.
The pupae or 'sleepers" are more
Dr. less barrel shaped and dark brown
IN color. In midsummer this stage
asts from three to ten days, four
20 five days being the usual duration.
The pupa stage is easily affected by
changes and may be
prolonged during Information for as
ong as four or five months. Num-
,rous rearing experiments in various
PARTS of the country have shown
hat the shortest time between the
deposition of eggs and the emery
nee of the adult fly is eight days,
md 10 and IL day records were very
Common.
The adult fly, upon entering from I
he puparium, works its way upward
through the soil or manure and up {
N reaching the air it crawls about '
7hile its wings expand and the body
ardens and assumes it's normal col
ration. In very few days the fe' I
nale is ready to deposit eggs. In I
ecent experiments it was found
hat the time between the emery 4
nee of the adults and the first de- S
osition of eggs is considerably C
horter than previously was thought a
, be the case. Only three or four 4
avs are necessary in midsummer a
Or the female to reach sexual ma s
1rity. AS in the case of other per- o
Ids of its life history, so the pre- b
period is prolonged con- N
derably by the lower temperatures N
! spring and autumn. In midsum- Il
er, with a development period of n
ON to 10 days from egg to adult,
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