742 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



can easily be carried to human food, to water, food receptacles, etc., 

 or directly to the skin or to wounds. As they often fly long dis- 

 tances in a few minutes, the danger is not merely local. A House- 

 fly, carrying contagion on its feet, may fly in a few minutes from the 

 worst tenement districts of any city to the largest hotels or most ele- 

 gant houses of the wealthy, and entering their kitchens can deposit 

 the contagion on the costliest food or dishes, if exposed. 



Probably this method of spreading contagious diseases, usually 

 ignored, explains in part at least the fact that health-resorts, far 

 from cities, often soon become the reverse of healthy, owing to the 

 diffusion of disease germs by flies, etc. 



The abundance of these flies in Bermuda, in summer, will be a 

 source of danger in case of epidemics of any contagious diseases, or 

 even with sporadic cases, for many of the dwelling houses do not 

 have suitable sanitary arrangements for disposing of offal, or for pre- 

 venting the access of flies. In winter and spring, when visitors 

 mostly go there, these flies are fortunately not very numerous. Most 

 of the larger hotels and boarding houses are now provided with 

 good sanitary arrangements, but to exclude all flies is veiy difficult 

 in summer, as in other warm countries.* 



Onion-fly; Onion-maggot. (Phorbla ceparum-=.Anthomyi<i r?p</- 

 rum.) Figure 90. 



We were told that this species occurs, but obtained no specimens 

 of it. The larvae burrow in the bulbs of young 1 onions. 

 Anthomyia leplda was also recorded by Jones, 1876. 



Grape-fly ; Wine-fly ; Vinegar-fly ; Pomace-fly. (Drosopfiila 

 ampelophila.) Figure 91. 



This small fruit-fly is very abundant wherever there is decaying 

 fruit or fermenting fruit juices ; it is often associated with other 

 related species, not } r et determined. It is also attracted to the dilute 

 alcohol used in preserving specimens. The body is light orange- 

 brown ; abdomen with lighter yellowish bands. 



Cheese-maggot; Cheese-skipper; Dairy fly. (Piophlla easel.) 



This small, widely diffused flv is also found in Bermuda. Prob- 

 ably it was introduced in cheese or bacon from Europe or America. 

 It is about half as large as a House-fly, with a glossy black body. 



* A very liberal and frequent use of kerosene and of chloride of lime on all 

 decaying or infected matter is very useful against flies and their larva?. For 

 further details, see L. O. Howard. Farmer's Bulletin, No. 155, U. S. Dept. Agric, 

 1902 ; and Year Book, U. S. Dept. Agriculture, for 1901, pp. 177-192. 



