81 
HIBERNATION OF FLIES IN A LINCOLNSHIRE HOUSE. 
By G. S. GRAHAM-SMITH, M.D. 
In the autumn of 1917 the writer received several letters from Mr L. C. Peters 
describing his experiences with flies hibernating in a large and very old house, 
situated in a large park at Frampton, near Kirton, Boston, Lincolnshire. 
Mr Peters’ attention was directed first to the matter towards the end of 
October. On removing the window sashes the frames were found “black with 
flies.” After fumigation a bucketful of dead flies was removed from a single 
window frame, and about six bucketfuls from other infested windows. Only 
one side of the house was affected, but on that side the flies were found in 
the window frames on all three stories. “Ladybirds” were also present in 
large numbers. 
Early in November the window frames were fumigated with HCN, and 
all the joints and cracks were syringed first with carbon bisulphide and then 
with a saturated solution of crude naphthaline in methylated spirit. For a 
few days no flies were seen, but in the beginning of December they were “ as 
numerous as ever.” 
A second fumigation with HCN and treatment with carbon bisulphide of 
the situations which could not be fumigated took place in December. On 
examining the frames in January no living flies were found in the frames. 
The gardener informed Mr Peters that the trouble had recurred to his 
knowledge every winter for 24 years. It usually began towards the end of 
July, and the flies were numerous on the windows of the house during the 
autumn and winter. They disappeared about April as suddenly as they 
appeared. 
Some specimens collected on December 6 and forwarded to the writer 
belonged to the following species. 
Diptera: 
Males 
Females 
Musca corvinci 
7 
10 
Pollenia rudis 
4 
5 
Pyrellia eriophthahna 
2 
Limnophora septemnotata 
31 
Culex pipiens 
Chalcids: 
11 
Stenomalus muscarum 
20 
Pteromalus deplanatus 
Parasitology xi 
1 
