i INSc cig, 
FARMERS 
BULLETIN 
Wasuincton, D.C. . 679 Jury 14, 1915. 
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology, L. O. Howard, Chief. 
HOUSE FLIES. 
By L. O. Howarp, Chief of the Bureau of Entomology, and R. H. Hurcutison, 
Scientific Assistant. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
ihayver tie nto ee ee aN ttorall enéemies==2— = 2 2 = 2 == = if 
Life history of the true house fly_--_ 5 | Preventive and control measures___~— 11 
Carriae.o1 Gisease-=-——-— = — —— 10 | What communities can do _____--~--~- 21 
INTRODUCTION. 
There are several species of flies which are commonly found in 
houses, although but one of these should properly be called the 
house fly. This fly, Musca domestica L. (fig. 1), which is found in 
Fic. 1.-—The common house fly (Musca domestica) : Puparium at left; adult next ; 
larva and enlarged parts at right. All enlarged. (Author’s illustration.) 
nearly all parts of the world, is a medium-sized grayish fly, with 
its mouth parts spread out at the tip for sucking up liquid substances. 
On account of the conformation of its mouth parts, the house fly can 
not bite, yet no impression is stronger in the minds of most people 
than that this insect does occasionally bite. This impression is due 
Norr.—This bulletin supersedes Farmers’ Bulletin No, 459. It will be of interest 
wherever breeding places for flies are found, 
94399°—15 1 
