11g 
Narcissus Fly (Merodon equestris) (14), which is a large 
hairy Insect marked very like a small Bumble Bee. It 
appears in spring and early summer up to July, flying in 
the sunshine over the beds. The eggs are laid on or near 
the leaf bases or on the necks of the bulbs if the latter are 
exposed. Narcissi and Hyacinths are the bulbs chiefly 
attacked. The method by which the young larve enter 
the bulbs is doubtful; they either penetrate between the 
scales of the neck or crawl outside to the base-of the 
bulb and then gnaw their way within, or possibly both 
methods may occur. When fully grown the larvae measure 
din. long and in this stage they pass the winter, usually 
turning to the pupa in the spring, either in the soil or some- 
times in the bulbs. The life-history is said to occupy two 
years, but this is probably erroneous. The presence of 
these larvae can be usually detected by gently pressing 
the bulbs, the infected ones being less hard, but it is often 
impossible to be quite sure without cutting open the bulb. 
Before planting, or just after lifting, all infected bulbs 
should be burnt, and any bulbs, concerning which there is 
the least suspicion, should be steeped for an hour in water 
at 110 deg. F.; if this temperature be not exceeded no harm 
should accrue to the bulbs, while any maggots present are 
said to die afterwards as the result. Possibly a lower 
temperature is effective and growers are advised to deter- 
mine this point for themselves. Any bulbs that fail to 
appear or undergo very little growth in spring should be 
dug up and destroyed as soon as possible. 
The House Fly (Musca domestica) (16) although quite 
harmless to vegetation is of great importance economically. 
Its eggs are usually laid in fermenting accumulations of 
horse manure, but may be also deposited in decaying 
vegetable refuse, ash-pit contents and other substances. 
The female Fly lays upwards of 120 to 150 eggs at a time, 
and each is capable of laying five to six such batches. 
The length of the complete life cycle depends very largely 
upon temperature, and during hot weather it may only 
occupy three weeks from the time the eggs are laid up to 
the time when the resultant Flies emerge. Certain of the 
late autumn Flies survive the winter and give rise to the 
maggots in the following spring; the Flies appear in their 
greatest profusion during August and September. The 
House Fly is injurious to man in acting as a carrier of 
disease germs, and it is specially concerned with the spread 
