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Fly Pupae in Bottled Milk¹

Division of Entomology, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota

ABSTRACT

Late in September last, there was submitted to me for examination a quart bottle of certified milk which bore along the sides some thirty little, tawny gray specks about 2.5 mm. (1/10 inch) long and 0.8 mm. (1/30 inch) wide. They were immovable and closely attached to the glass and stood out sharply against the white background of the contained milk, as is shown by the photograph reproduced herewith. It is no wonder that they had attracted the attention and the suspicion of the purchaser.

Viewed under the lens, they proved to be the pupae of a minute fly of the genus Drosophila, very closely allied to the common "pomace-fly" which is so abundant around decaying apples and other fermenting substances during the summer and fall of the year.

Desirous of knowing the source of this infestation in the milk and whether so gross a contamination was merely an index of a wholly insanitary condition, I undertook to obtain further details bearing upon the condition.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director as Paper No. 146, of the Journal Series of the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station.