JOlNALOFAGRICillMLRESEARC: 



Washington, D. C, April 15, 191 8 



Vol. XIII 



No. 3 



OVERWINTERING OF THE HOUSE FLY 



By R. H. Hutchison,' Scientific Assistant, Bureau of Entomology, United States 



Department of Agriculture 



INTRODUCTION 



Experiments and observations bearing on the problem of the method 

 of the overwintering of the house fly {Musca domestica Linnaeus) were 

 begun by the Bureau of Entomology during the fall of 1 914 at the Arling- 

 ton Experimental Farm of the Bureau of Plant Industry. The following 

 spring the work was transferred to the experiment station of the Bureau 

 of Animal Industry at Bethesda, Md., and was continued there during 

 the two seasons 191 5-1 7. 



OVERWINTERING OF ADULT FLIES UNDER EXPERIMENTAL 



CONDITIONS 



NEW V 



UNDER OUTDOOR CONDITIONS 



A large number of experiments were conducted during the winter of 

 1914-15. Reared flies were put in screen-wire cages, which measured 

 10 by 12 by 22 inches. In the bottom of each was a drawer in which 

 food and water were supplied. The food materials usually consisted of 

 sliced banana and fresh horse manure. The cages were kept on shelves 

 of a screened insectary where they were subject to outdoor temperature 

 and humidity, but were protected from rain and to some extent from 

 direct sunlight. The banana and manure were renewed at frequent inter- 

 vals so that a fresh food supply was always available. The most signifi- 

 cant results of these experiments are summarized in Table I. 



1 The writer wishes to express his appreciation of the kindness of Mr. E. C. Butterfield, superintendent 

 of the Arlington Experimental Farm near Rosslyn, Va., and Dr. E. C. Schroeder, superintendent of the 

 experiment station of the Bureau of Animal Industry at Bethesda. Md., for the faciUties afforded during the 

 course of the work. The writer's thanks are also due to Dr. C. H. T. Townsend, of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology, for determining many specimens of Muscidae, and to Mr. Frederick Knab, of the Bureau of 

 Entomology, for the determination of many nonmuscids. 



Journal of Agricultural Research, 



Washington. D. C. 



my 



(149) 



Vol. XIII. No. 3 

 Apr. IS, 1918 

 Key No. K. 64 



