INSECTS INJURIOUS TO MAN AND IN HOUSEHOLD 637 



flies seem to be biting. This is due to the fact, that under some 

 weather conditions the stable flies seek shelter in the houses and 

 they, with their piercing mouth-parts, do the biting generally 

 attributed to the housefly. 



Larvae of houseflies are white 

 maggots of the ordinary form. 

 They are, when grown about three- 

 eighths inch in length and may be 

 found in the breeding places men- 

 tioned. When ready to pupate 

 they frequently leave the breed- 

 ing material and travel some dis- 

 tance in search of suitable places 

 in which to pass the pupal stage. 

 This habit has been utilized in 

 control measures as at that time 

 they can be trapped. * 



The pupae are found in the soil 

 or under rubbish. They are brown, 

 regular-oval objects, one-fourth FIG. 547. Larvae of the housefly, 

 inch in length and will not be readily distinguished from those of 

 several other species. 



Control. Housefly control is accomplished in several ways. 

 The principal ones are abolition of breeding places and trapping of 

 adults and larvae. Abolition of breeding places is done by protect- 

 ing all material in which they may breed by screening or otherwise 



covering it until it may be destroyed. 

 Fly-tight manure and garbage receptacles 

 are widely used for this purpose. Gar- 

 bages destroyed as promptly as possible 

 and manure is distributed over the fields 

 so that it will dry out and be no longer a 

 suitable breeding material. If the 

 screened receptacles of this type be further 



FIG. 548. Pupae of the 

 housefly. 



provided with flytraps, so that they will serve to attract and cap- 

 ture the adult flies which would otherwise have deposited their 

 eggs in them or fed there, they will serve a double purpose. 



* See E. N. Cory, Bulletin 213, Md. Agr. Exp. Sta. and R. H. Hutchinson, 

 Bulletin 200, U. S. Dept. of Agr. 



