The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-09-17
In a Few Years the Horn Fly is
Absent.
FURTHER LETTERS ARE WHITTIER
Inquiry From a Kauai Man-Repl 10 4
Leading Dairy Paper-Pofes
sor K0etle

! ED. HOARD'S Though
| addressing you from san Francisco. I be
| long 10 the Hawaiian Islands. now a part
/ of the United States. Within the last fouI
months. the Texas horn fly has made its
| appearance on the islands. and is doing
| untold damage 20 the stock interests
| there. and like all evils imported into the
warm climate of the islands without their
natural enemies, or parasites, carry
everything before them. The fly is there
by the millions
Remedies such as taTTing the animals,
pouring on of kerosene oil, collecting the
droppings and burning them. have been
tried on the diaries TO no avail, and these
are remedies, which, if effectual locally.
would not reach the stock at large on the
ranges.
As this fly was imported from the
States, and has not become the plague
here that ii has on the islands, l conclude
that 1t must have natural enemies, that
Keep II in check, do you know what these
enemies are?
1 would consider it great favor if you
would write me by mail, as soon as you
conveniently can, and give me all the in
formation\you have on the subject. l was
recommended to write to you by II. H.
Taylor, Esq, Manager of the d. O. Mills
ALEX. NJ. McBRYDE.
Wahiawa, Hawaiian Islands.
We have waived the rule in this case.
as to personal answers to correspondents,
ed, although unable TO offer him any sub
Stantial help. We have also written to
the Department of Agricultural for the
latest information, in regard to this pest,
in possession of the government entomOlo-
gists. Meantime, We suggest, as a tenn
pOrary eXpedient, that if the cattle can
have access to bruShy spots on the range,
or some artificial devices be erected to
which they can go and rid themselves of
these torments, there viii be some relief.
On page 242 of the present volume of the
Dairyman, we published letter from the
Hawaiian Islands, asking for advice and
methods for DESTROYING the horn fv At
the same time, we sent to the Bureau of
Animal Industry, Washington, d. c., re-
questing their aid. In return, they have
sent the following letter. In view of the
fact that the farmers of the middle west
are complaining so bitterly of the ravages
of this pest, it will be some comfort to
know that it will probably rapidly de-
crease in numbers in the future, and lose
It's present place as a cattle torment:
Washington, July 20, 1925
ED. HOARD'S Your let
ter of the 10th instant, addressed to Major
AlvOrd, Chief of the Dairy Division of the
Bureau of Animal Industry, has been re-
ferred to this office for reply. We know
nothing in this country in the way of
remedies for the horn fly mot the Texas
horned ny }, except the application of re-
peuent mixtures to cattle themselves, the
treatment of dung and such other meas
ureS as you are doubtless familiar with
through the newspapers and station bull
IetinS. There is a host of small insects
which feed upon the eggs and larvae Of
the horn fly, and other COW dung inhab hit
ing Diptera, in this country. Just which of
these are most effective in reducing the
of the horn fly, has not been de-
termined. | think it altogether likely that
you have in Hawaii similar predaceOiIS
and parasitic insects, which Will. before
long, begin to reduce the numbers of the
horn fly.
1t has been our experience, In the Unit
ed States, that for the first year and, fire.
the appearance of the horn fly. it has
been very numerous, and then gradually
becomes less and less abundant, until
now, in the Eastern States where it was
an injurious pest eight years ago. it is
4 comparatively rare species / see no
reason why the same course will not be
followed in your island If, however, you !
wish to make an attempt to introduce |
insects, and predaceOus insects, !
COW dung, [ understand that |
Mr.. kOebele, the entOmOlOgiSt of the Ha- |
Taiian Government, is either in this cOun- |
-ry now, or will soon visit this country, |
work.
1t is most interesting to learn that the |
insect has reached Hawaii. It's spread has !
been very rapid. AS YOU doubtless know, |
t was brought from Europe to this cOun- |
ry for the first time, as late as 1886, and, !
in this country the trend of cat !
lie travel is from the West toward the |
East the fly advanced from the East |
Oward the West. at the rate of many
hundreds of miles every year.
L. Q. HOWARD,
ETDtnrnnlnoriS+