THE LITTLE HOUSE FLY 
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distinct species but to a different family, these little 
ones being members of the family Anthomyidae. There 
are several of these species of Homalomyia, including 
not only canicularis, but H. brevis Rond, and II. 
scalaris Fab., but canicularis is the one found most 
abundantly in houses. The name “little house fly” has 
not been definitely applied to it in this country, but 
it is a translation of the German popular name, “Kleine 
Stubenfliege.” The larvae of this species live in de¬ 
caying vegetable material and have also been found 
living in dead insects of different kinds. They have 
even been found in the nests of the common bumble¬ 
bee. They will breed also in excreta of animals and 
in human excreta, and therefore would be quite as 
dangerous as the true house fly were they as numerous. 
They make their appearance early in the summer and 
persist until autumn. 
The allied species, H. brevis, is not so common in 
houses as the one just mentioned, but it is an abundant 
breeder in human excrement. 
Both species are rapid breeders, and a generation is 
produced every two weeks, in the vicinity of Wash¬ 
ington, in summer. The full development has not been 
traced, but the larvae are quite different from the larvae 
of the house fly. That of brevis is shown in Fig. 24. 
It and its relatives are all furnished with a double row 
of spiny processes on either side, giving them a very 
characteristic appearance. Their larvae have occa¬ 
sionally been found in freshly passed human dejecta 
and are surely on occasion voided by persons who have 
