Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1888 — Where the Flies Go. [ARTICLE]

Where the Flies Go.

Wilmington, N. C., MettcDger. Some one has asked where do the flies go in the winter? That is a question of some interest, for a house-fly is horn, fully grown, and of mature size, and there are no little flies of the same species, the small ones occasionally observed being different in kind from the large ones. The house-fly does not bite or pierce the skin, but gathers its food by a comb or rake or brush-like tongue, with which it is able to scrape the varnish from the covers of books, and it thus tickles the skin of persons upon whom it lights to feed upon the perspiration. A fly is a scavenger and a vehicle by which contagious diseases are spread. It poisons wounds and may cany deadly virus from decaying organic matter into food. It retires from sight at the beginning of winter, but where it goes few persons know. If a search of the house be made, they will be found in great numbers secreted in warm places in the roof or between partitions or floors. Last winter we had occasion to examine a roof, and found around the chimney myriads of flies hibernating comfortably and sufficiently lively to fly when disturbed in “overpowering clouds.” No doubt this is a favorite winter resort for these insects.