APPENDIX.
REPORT ON THE BITING FLIES IN THE PUNJAB BY MR. PATEL.
IN obedience to the order of the imperial pathological entomologist I left for
Amritsar reaching it on the 13th ultimo. Colonel Newsom had left instructions with the
station master for the work which I received on the 14th. I had to make observations
for tabanus, hæmatopota, and other biting flies which are supposed to transit surra. The
different insects found at Amritsar are mentioned below :—
(1) Tabanus (adults) biting cattle in grazing area outside the city. An egg mass
of the above was found on the leaf of a Jamon tree. This leaf was hanging
over a pit of cattle urine.
(2) Stomoxys found in a garden where bullocks were grazing.
(3) Philæmatomyia insignis on buffaloes and cows.
(4) Philebotomus papatasii and (P. minutus ?), in an appreciable number in the
house where I lodged. The house harboured lizards also. Amongst the
biting flies philæmatomyia commanded the majority.
My next camp was at Garibwal. Here I had instructions to investigate the biting
flies in the country between Garibwal and Banganwal. The tract between Harnpur and the-
(Ara) Hills is a grazing area with a few babool trees (acacia arabica) here and there. There
is rarely any pool of stagnant water. A single running stream starts from the base of the
mountain and passes through this tract. On examination of several cattle of this tract, I
found philæmatomyia and hippobosca : anopheles and sandflies of phlebotomus were also
found, the former being plentiful. The running stream was carefully examined to see if any
simulium was breeding in it with the result that it was conspicuously absent.
At this stage I joined Colonel Newsom and Mr. cross (camel specialist) and
visited Malakwal, Sohawa, Domeli, Kathwai, Kundian, Mianwali, Chhab, Canpbellpur and
Dera Ismail Khan, respectively, in company with them. The last place, Dera Ismail Khan,
was visited with Mr. Cross only. The observations made at each place are noted below :—
(1) Malakwal.—In this place trees and pools of stagnant water are comparatively
in a greater number. On examination of local animals and camels I found a few stomoxys,
philæmatomyia and hippobosca. The last one was commanding the majority. Tabanus
was apparently absent in spite of suitable surroundings for breeding. A careful search
on the border of small pond revealed that it was thriving in its earlier stages of larva and
pupa. Eggs could not be found. This corroborates the information from the local people
that they find this (Dang) tabanus in September and October. The military camels
were all infested with two kinds of ticks more or less. The big ones, rephicephalus, live all
round the anus and the small ones in humps. They were free of lice and fleas in this season.
According to the camelmen, they trouble them very much in the cold of December and
January. Phlebotomus (sandflies) were also observed and taken from the dak bungalow.
(2) Sohawa.—It is a hilly place with streams and puddles. The following insects
were found: —
Old egg masses of tabanus on leaves hanging over the running streams.
Simulium was absent. I would attribute this to the existence of small fishes (hill trouts)
in a very great number.
Stomoxys in an appreciable number.
Lyperosia.
Mosquitoes and sandflies (phlebotomus).
Ceratophogen, black species on goats.
Camel worms (oestridæ).
(3) Domeli.—This place is also hilly. It contains a rakh Grat (grazing area for
government camels), having a running stream and big pond. The stream valleys are full
of rank vegetation. Here I found—
Tabanus, adults, and fresh egg masses of both rabanus and chrysops.
Ceratopogan of yellow species in swarms.
Stomoxys,
Lyperosia.