Imperial Valley press., 1913-09-23
The Stable Fly
And It's Control

During the late summer of 1912 the
actual death loss of livestock in north
ern Texas caused by the stable fly is
conservatively estimated at $4,000
in Farmers Bulletin $40, recently is
sued by the Department Of Agricul-
ture The loss due to the reduction
in milk supply may reasonably be plac-
ed at $4,000 and other losses far
surpass these two items. This only in
cludes few counties in northern Tex
as where the fly was most abundant
and not it's devastations sustained
in practically all parts of the United
I States. The Departments new bull
letin is written by F. c. Bishopp, one
of its chronological experts, and gives
many practical hints regarding the
control of this pest.
Besides literally worrying cattle,
mules, and horses to death and kill
ing them by extracting their blood, the
deadly fly also transmits disease from
one animal to another. Investigators
also consider it to be an agent in
transmitting CHAMBERS, while a dis
ease known as infectious anemia or
swamp fever of horses is thought by
some to be carried by this fly. A num-
ber of years ago it was found to act
: as transmitter of a species of round
worm that infests cattle.
Animals weakened by the loss Of
blood are more prone to contract other
diseases. Texas fever is an acute
form often attacks live stock that has
become less energetic in fighting with
stable flies. The joints of both hor-
ses and cattle sometimes become so
swollen from standing in water where
they sought protection from flies, that
they can hardly walk.
Even man may be inoculated with
disease by this pest. Septicemia or
(blood- -poisoning) is considered to he
carried by it, and demonstrations OF
famous physicians have pointed to
the possibility Of the transmission OF
infantile paralysis in the same man
ner. Thus it will be seen that the
transmission of formidable array Of
diseases is clfargeable to the stables
fly.
The stable fly is one of the most
widely distributed of insects being
common in both tropical and temperate
regions where domestic animals are
reared. In regions bordering on the
tropics, the flies are Of importance
throughout the entire year. In the
extreme southern part of our country
there is no month during the year in
which the flies are not annoying 20
horses and cattle In the northern
states, the fly is particularly injur-
| nd oh, 1o<
and fall.
| Investigation made during the 1912
outbreak showed clearly that the va
majority of stable flies bred in straw
stacks. 1t was also shown that while
the fly breeds in pure horse manure,
! it favors mixture of this substance
with straw.
The fly was found to be breeding
in much greater abundance in oat
straw than in wheat straw. Rice straw
was also found to furnish suitable
breeding conditions and there is little
doubt that barley and rye also serve
as food for the immature stages of
the insect. The development Of this
insect is somewhat slower than that
Of the house fly and it is therefore
quite necessary that the eggs be de-
posted in rather large quantities If
material for it to breed out success
fully.
As with most insects, the destruc-
tion of this one when it is actually
doing the injury is what is most de-
sired by those concerned. With this
species, as With many others this is
the most difficult time to accomplish
the desired result.
| During the recent outbreak in Tex