SOME INSECTS AFFECTING CHEESE, HAMS, FRUIT, ETC. Ill 



when nearly full grown, left the liquid and advanced to tiie side and 

 top of the glass jar where he had placed them, where they could be 

 observed feeding on condensed moisture. They transformed to puparia, 

 from which the first flies issued in four days. 



Mr. G. J. Bowles, in the Canadian Entomologist for June, 1882, 

 figures roughly the different stages of T). ampelophUa and gives an 

 account of its damage to raspberry vinegar. An earthenware jar had 

 been nearly filled with raspberries and vinegar. On opening the jar 

 about ten days later (August IG) it was found to be swarming with 

 the larvic and cocoons of the insect. Hundreds of the larvic were 

 crawling on the sides of the jar and the tinderside of tlie cover, while 

 pupa^ were found abundantly, single and in clusters, particularly where 

 the cover touched the top of the jar. The short time required for the 

 production of so many individuals was suri^rising. Mr. Bowles half 

 filled a covered tumbler with the pickled raspberries and larvae, and 

 they continued to produce flies for several weeks. The following season 

 the same observer noticed that the flies were attracted to some rasp- 

 berry wine in process of fermentation, hovering about the jars and 

 alighting upon the corks, evidently seeking for an opening through 

 which they might pass to lay their eggs. At another time he placed a 

 few raspberries, with a small quantity of vinegar, in a pickle jar with a 

 loose cover. A fortnigiit afterwards a number of larvjne were seen in 

 the bottle, and several pupie were attached to its sides. 



This statement, together with Dr. Lintners, that the pupal state may 

 last but four days, shows that a brood may develop in twenty days. 

 The general habits of these insects are well understood by almost every 

 housewife. The writer has often observed them about his own house, 

 and has seen the larvae working under conditions described by Mr. 

 Bowles, and he is informed by Mr. Marlatt that one of the species is 

 extremely abundant at Manhattan, Kans., and that in his own house- 

 hold the greatest care was necessary to prevent them from entering 

 fruit jars. 



REMEDIES. 



The common entrance of these little Drosophilas into pant ies and 

 storerooms, as well as into dining rooms where fruit is kept upon the 

 sideboard, is another argument in favor of careful window screening. 

 Where they have once entered ajar of fruit it is not necessary to throw 

 away the entire contents of the jar, since the larva' occur only on the 

 top layers. These may be removed, and the remainder of the contents 

 may often prove pure and sweet. All fruit canned while hot and her- 

 metically sealed will be safe. The flies will lay their eggs upon the jar, 

 perhaps, or upon the cloth covering, and an almost imperceptible open- 

 ing will suflice for the newly hatched maggot to enter; so the sealing 

 must be perfect. An occasional pulling of pyrethrum about the store- 

 room Avill destroy the flies which may have gained entrance. Where a 

 jar has once been opened its contents can be preserved where these 

 insects are numerous only by placing it in some tight receptacle. 



