Hi Rich94506,
I always thought the purpose of a housefly was to keep us cool as we
swat at them at family picnics! :)
According to Grolier's Multimedia Encyclopedia, "The beneficial
activities of flies include pollination, the reduction and recycling
of biological wastes, and the contribution of the fruit fly,
Drosophila, to genetics studies." ("Fly")
The housefly (Musca domestica) is of course, also a major nuisance.
Each fly can carry as many as 6 million bacteria on its feet. If it
has "recently walked in excrement, it may transmit pathogens
["causative agent (as a bacterium or virus) of disease)"
(Merriam-Webster)] causing typhoid, cholera, dysentery, leprosy,
poliomyelitis, and infections hepatitis, as well as the eggs of
parasitic worms." ("Housefly", Grolier) Because of the heavy use of
pesticides, flies have developed an immunity to many of the chemicals
that previously worked to eliminate them (ibid.).
Source:
Greenberg, Bernard. "Fly." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier,
Inc., 2002.<http://go.grolier.com> July 26, 2002.
Horn, David J. "Housefly." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier,
Inc., 2002.<http://go.grolier.com> July 26, 2002.
"Pathogen." Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. Merriam-Webster,
Inc., 2002. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary> July
26, 2002.
I hope this answers your question sufficiently, if not, please post a
request for clarification.
Regards,
readersguide |
