148 ELEMENTARY STUDIES IN INSECT LIFE 



abundance to the house-fly in most portions of the 

 United States. The greatest structural difference be- 

 tween the two is that the stable-fly has mouth-parts 

 adapted for piercing the skin. The house-fly has no 

 piercing organs in its proboscis. 



The common house-fly breeds in fresh horse-manure, 

 from which during the warm weather the generations 

 emerge in quick succession. It is well, then, to prevent 

 the prevalence and avoid the annoyances arising from 

 the presence of this insect by seeing that all stables in 

 the vicinity are kept perfectly clean, and the sweep- 

 ings therefrom promptly removed or well covered with 

 lime. As is well known, these insects can be practically 

 excluded from the home by means of wire mosquito 

 netting over the doors and windows. 



The house-fly has a number of natural enemies, some 

 being hymenopterous parasites, others being predatory 

 beetles. The enemy which most effectually reduces 

 the house-fly, however, is a fungous disease character- 

 ized by the whitish swelled abdomen of the dead insect. 

 This disease does not generally become epidemic until 

 late in the season. 



The Buffalo Moth. - In some parts of our country the 

 buffalo moth : or carpet beetle creates considerable dam- 

 age among woolen goods. Like many of I lie common 

 names given insects, the term " buffalo moth '" is mis- 

 leading. This buffalo moth is not a moth, but belongs to 

 the Coleoptera. In the summer and fall these insects are 

 the most active, but in well-heated houses they may work 

 throughout the year. The adult insect is a broad oval 



l Anthrenus sj>. 



