The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-03
The Horn Flv.


This pest is gradually working its way
west and south, and it is well for farmers
and stockmen to post themselves as to its
life history and habits, says the Texas
Farm and Ranch.
The horn fly is a native of Southern Eu-
rope, and was introduced into the United
States with imported cattle about seven
years ago, and il has spread from Canada
to Texas. The fly a small, dark gray
species, resembling the house fly, but only
about half its size. Notwithstanding the
fact that there is no record of a single ami
NAL being killed by these flies, by suck
ing the blood and the intolerable itch
ing their bite produces, cattle may be
greatly reduced in flesh and in ability to
ward off other ills The ravages of this
pest is a serious matter to cattle raisers,
for it can reach the pocket otherwise
than by actually killing the cattle. The
insect increases very rapidly in numbers,
and they instinCtively settle upon such pOr
tiOns of the animal which are least easily
reached by the head or tail, such as the
back TANKS, belly, and on the horns,
where they congregate in dense masses,
often forming a complete black ring
around the base of the horn from two to
four inches wide. This habit gives the
fly its common name of thorn fly" But
they do no harm to the horn, Neither do
they attack any other animals,
When biting cattle the flies work their
way beneath the hair and insert their
short, dagger-shaped trunks through the
skin and gorge themselves with the blood
of their victims These bites produce
much irritation, and the animals frequent
ly rub themselves against trees or other
objects until sores of considerable size are
produced. Theseggs are never layed in
these sores, but are always laid upon
| the fresh droppings of the cattle, where
| the maggots hatch. They feed only upon
the liquid substance of dung while in a
moist condition These flies, like all
insects, pass through four stages.
The egg, which J is laid on
the surface of dung; the magg0t orstarva,
which lives inside it, and when full
grown, descends short distance into the
ground and changes to the puparium
state; from this in a few days, in warm
weather, the perfect fly emerges. From
the egg to the perfect insect, takes only
two or three weeks, and there are several
broods in a season. The last brood passes
the winter beneath the soil in the pupa-
rum state and the flies emerge the fol
lowing spring. Upon their first appear
ance, all should combine in a concerted
effort to reduce the numbers by treating
the dung so as to prevent the fly from
breeding.
REMEDIES.
These are of two kinds ~ Proven
tive. or such as keep the flies from bit
ing stock and (2) ,active,or thosewhich aim
at DESTROYING the insect in its various
stages. For the first the application of
some substance not injurious to the ami
mails, but obnoxious to the flies, is neces-
sarv. It has been found that almost any
cheap oil will answer this purpose, and
train oil, fish oil, tallow and axle grease,
have been extensively used. The addl-
ton of a little carbOic acid or oil OF Tar
not only keeps the flies away, but has
healing effect where sores have been
formed bv the animals rubbing. These
substances may be added in the proper
ton of one ounce, about tablespoonful
to half a gallon of oil, and the mixture
must be well mixed or shaken together
before application A small quantity
should be rubbed over the beast with a
sponge or cloth where the flies gather
most thickly.
Kerosene emulsion, sprayed over the
animals by means of a force pump and
SPRAYING nozzle has also been used with
great success.
of the second class, or active remedies
the most etfectual are those which secure
the destruction of the eggs and maggots.
These exist only in the fresh, moist uuhg
Of cattle A shovelful of lime thrown on
a cow dung has been found to destroy all
fine contained maggots. Wood ashes
would answer even. better and would
he n valuable fertilizer for the pas
tnre where applied. Road dust or dry
earth would answer the purpose OF drying
nm the moisture of the manure Whlcn Is
Necessary for the maggots to live. Inc
surest way, perhaps, to deprive the mag