88 Bureau of Farmers' Institutes. 



in dooryard filth, but the former substance appears to be preferred 

 by this pest. One fly can deposit about 120 eggs which hatch in 

 approximately eight hours. The maggots grow rapidly and in 

 about ten days transform to adult flies. The short life cycle and 

 prolificacy of this insect account most fully for its enormous num- 

 bers in hot weather. 



In many places it would appear that comparatively little elfort 

 would prevent the breeding of the flies to a considerable extent. 

 Either the manure could be spread on the fields daily, as recom- 

 mended by advanced agriculturists, or a dark shed or cellar could 

 be provided for its reception. The first method would result in 

 such rapid drying of the manure that the flies could not mature. 

 It is not usually very much trouble to inclose a shed or cellar 

 so it will be too dark for the flies to enter, and this plan would 

 therefore result in reducing the numbers of the pests very greatly. 

 With the manure properly cared for and out of reach of flies, and 

 a little cleaning up of other places offering favorable conditions 

 for multiplication of these insects, the fly nuisance would be 

 abated to a very great extent. 



Fleas. — It occasionally happens that a shed or room in a house 

 becomes infested with these pests. They most likely owe their 

 introduction to the pet dog or cat. The eggs of this insect are 

 deposited among the hairs of its host, but not fastened, so they 

 soon drop to the ground and naturally are most abundant about 

 the sleeping place of the animal. The young emerge from the 

 eggs in about one day, and live in dust and refuse occurring on 

 the floor or in crevices. They require seven to fourteen days to 

 complete their growth, then spin a slight cocoon, and about five 

 days later the jumping adults come forth. 



The young do not develop successfully in places where they are 

 frequently disturbed, and the necessary lack of sweeping when 

 a house is closed for the summer is probably the cause of the 

 rather frequent reports of such dwellings being overrun with 

 these pests when the family returns. On general principles it 

 may be assumed that the presence of this pest in numbers in- 

 dicates some favorable, undisturbed breeding place in the im- 



