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Musca domestica. Gypsum plaster replica. Circa 1950.

Unlike the often huge plastic models that are common today, this detailed historic replica of a common housefly, magnified 65 times, is one of a kind.


ON SILKEN WINGS
The common fly is one of the most widespread of all insects. In its pursuit of people, it has conquered almost every climate zone. Sheltered corners in stables allow the warmth-loving fly to survive the winter. It is considered an undesirable synanthropic insect because contributes massively to the spread of pathogens due to the fact that it constantly moves between food and excrement – where a single insect can lay up to 2,000 eggs in the course of its life. The enlarged replica at the NHM was made in the 1950s. Rudolf Petrovitz, at that time a preparator in the insect collection, made it out of gypsum plaster and filed down metal pins to make the whiskers and bristles. To this day, the reconstruction is regarded as one of the best replicas of this pesky insect.
Although originally apprehensively displayed in an unlit table display case, Musca was one of the most popular items in Hall 24. When the ageing fly was removed from the display in 1996 because tears in its wings and legs made restoration an urgent necessity, many people asked where it was. There was then no question that it should have a place in the new insect hall. During a planning session, the idea was born of displaying Musca domestica in a “coffeehouse setting” – an allusion to the creature’s unwelcome presence even in the cosiest of settings and its inglorious role as a carrier of disease.
Unfortunately we no longer know who originally had the idea of building this model and why it was the common fly that was chosen.

Details

  • Title: Common Housefly
  • Rights: (c) NHM (Lois Lammerhuber)

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