New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-08-19
~ EL.N-FLY A DANGER
GUS PEST.
irritating TO Cattle, and Found to Be
Charbon Carrier-Cestroy the
Egg or LarvaI Stage.

| The norn-hy was imported from -u-
| rope, and since it's arrival i'll 1887, it
| has spread all over the country
Entomologists. or those who make
study of insect life, White
they may recommend some meas
ures TO destroy the mature in
sects, usually try to find out how and
where they breed and direct their eff
forts at killing them in the immature
stages and SO prevent their develop
ment In fact. it is questionable
whether it is possible, by simply de-
stroying adults. to keep pace with
their multiplication. On the other
hand. If these insects should be de-
stroyed in the egg and larval, or grub
stages, material reduction in their
numbers might be brought about. even
if the adult flies themselves should be
left alone. The important question
therefore is, where do these horn-fies
breed? According to the best au-
thorites, this fly lays its eggs singly,
and usually upon their sides. on the
surface of wet cow manure. So far
as is known, they are laid upon no
other substance, and never upon old
drOppings The moment the manure
is dropped. a swarm of flies dart from
the animal to the manure and remain
there a few seconds. or a minute at
the most. during which time many
eggs are deposited. Egg laying is
1n1 ;uh nd
abundant during the warmer morning
hours After the larvae, or grubs, !
hatch, they descend into the manure,
although remaining near the surface. |
The pupa, or dormant stage of the |
insect. is found in the ground un-
derneath the Groupings The time |
which elapses from the egg to the !
adult stage, or fly, is from about ten |
to seventeen days.
The fresh COW drOppings, then, are
the places on which these flies lay
their eggs, and where the different |
stages of the insect develop until the
full-fledged insect energies. The most |
practical method of control, therefore,
would be the direct treatment of the
manure to destroy the grubs and pu-
pae, and SO limit the number of flies
to maturity; and one of the
best agents to apply to the fresh drop
pings is lime. This may be quite
practical around buildings and yards
occupied by cattle, but somewhat i'm
practical out in the open fields and II
ranges. although it might be possible
TO carry out this method even under
such conditions, if the manure around
the places where cattle are in the
habit of congregating. under shade
is q trouble. but it is not possible
% secure results, without some trou-
Die, and II we ever expect to reduce
he numbers Of these pestiferous in h
,ects, we will have to get after their
breeding places and destroy them
here. H ~
The arsenical solution used in the
Tipping watts destroys large numbers
Il these flies, and there are a num-
yer Of sprays used to repel them
rom the animal, such as fish and
oal oil emulsions. the various repel-
ants on the market. etc. However,
zone Of these will eniectually eradi-
ate the horn-fly. while . combination
4 both measures would no doubt give
be most satisfactory results. In ad-
ition to its irritating effect on cat
Ie. the horn-fy has been found to b
carrier of Charlton infection.
w. H. Dalrymple.