This early silent, black & white educational film looks at maggots, house flies and the threat they pose to human health. House flies are one of the most common insects on the planet. They breed and feed in filth, including garbage, feces, and rotting or spoiled food. The film was made in 1926 by Pathe.

Opening titles: “Our Common Enemy “(:07-:22). A fly lays eggs on a flower. In eight to ten hours, the eggs hatch. Larva move around and slither. They look for a stable place to hide and eat as they move around (:23-2:05). When first hatched the larva are very transparent. It is very easy to study them and see their insides. Larva only move forward, not back. They have hooks on their side. They are blond and probably deaf. They have a mouth. In five to six days the larva is fully grown. It then puts itself into a cocoon. Inside of this cocoon, the larva is transforming itself into a housefly (2:06-4:17). INside the wings are tightly folded and his body shrunken. When the change is complete, the head busts through the cocoon and the fly is ready to go. The fly’s head. Empty pupal cases from which a fly has emerged. Mr. Housefly is ready to eat (4:18-5:57). Face of the fly closeup. Eyesight, wings, and strength is what helps the fly, he really has no defense. His eyes see in all directions. Thousand of tiny lenses on the fly’s eye. Their eyes see like a tiled floor. A hand moves in front of the lens (5:58-7:45). How a fly sees through it’s many lenses. A pair of scissors in front of the lens. How a fly sees the scissors. Closeup on a fly’s powerful wing (7:46-9:09). Fly’s have great strength. A fly picks up a tiny ball which weighs a lot. He twists and turns certain items (9:10-11:00). Flies grip with their claws. Closeup on the claw. A bunch of flies devouring filth. Close on a fly eating. Flies eat liquids only. A pad on the fly’s tongue is what touches all things. A fly moistens all things. A fly leans against a window pane (11:01-13:29). Flies landing on filth. A fly walks across a sterilized pan after touching filth. He has left a path of germs. A trail of germs can be seen. Germs. Closeup of a fly (13:30-14:56). End credits (14:57-15:02).

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com