2 CONXEC'TICUT GEOL. AND XAT. HIST. SURVEY [Bllll. 



to adult flies, of a total of 450,000 larvae, or 900,000 per ton. This 

 particular manure pile was only one of several in the city. Other 

 species of flies, not so commonly noticed, may be quite abundant. An 

 examination of wild flowers in any field in Connecticut on a warm 

 summer day will reveal many syrpliid flies hovering around and 

 alighting on the blossoms, and crane-flies are often abundant in moist 

 woodland areas. 



The liabitats of adult flies are usually limited to areas adjacent 

 to favoi-able breeding places, although under certain conditions they 

 may fly or be blown by winds some distance away. The presence of 

 swarms of midges, numerous mosquitoes, or an abundance of house- 

 flies, usually indicates that breeding has taken place in the vicinity. 

 This is particularly important in the control of species of economic 

 significance. In an}^ discussion of habitat, then, it is the larval habitat 

 that is more important. The variety of places in w^iich these insects 

 breed and their flying ability accounts for their presence in all parts 

 of the state. 



Although the requirements of fly larvae are diverse, for the 

 majority of species a moist environment is essential. Many species 

 are aquatic, living in ponds, pools, or streams. The volume of water 

 necessa]-v need not be large. The reservoirs of pitcher ])lants serve 

 as the breeding place for some. Others occur in the water in cavities 

 in trees. The imprints of cattle hoofs in low pastures frecpiently 

 serve as breeding places for mosquitoes, and temporary pools on the 

 salt marshes are notorious in this respect. Some species, as our 

 black-flies and net-winged midges, live only in rapidly running streams. 

 In large ponds and lakes the species which breed in the small shallow 

 marginal pools may differ from those found in deep water, and cer- 

 tain t3'pes of lakes may have distinctive bottom-dwelling species. 

 Some fly larvae, as rat-tailed maggots of the genus Eristalis, })refer 

 water containing a great amount of decomposing organic matter 

 and live in filth. 



The larvae of manj^ species live in soil or decaying organic mat- 

 ter of varying water content. Some horse-fly and crane-fly larvae live 

 in mud, and other species are found in rotton stumi)s and logs. The 

 larvae of some muscids and stratiomyids breed in privies. The soil 

 of woodlands, pastures, and cultivatecl fields is a common habitat of 

 larvae which feed upon dead organic matter, the roots of plants, or 

 small soil-dwelling animals. Even ant nests are inhabited by a few 

 species. 



The living parts of plants above ground have their fly fauna, 

 although these species may not be feeding on the plants themselves. 

 Leaves of herbaceous and woody plants, stalks of herbaceous plants, 

 and the cambium layer of trees have their mining and boi'ing mag- 

 gots. Fruits are infested with fruit fly larvae. A large number of 

 species live in nnishrooms. Many larvae which live in the leaves, 

 stems and flowers of plants cause galls to develop. Syrphid fly larvae 

 crawl about on the stems and leaves and feed on the aphids found 

 there. 



