Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1916-09-02
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THE HORN-FLY A DANGER
Gus PEST.
Irritating to Cattle, and Found to Be
a Charlton Carrier-Destroy the
Egg or larvaI Stage.

The hOrn-f1y was imported from Eu-
rope, and since its arrival in 1887, 1t
has spread all over the country.
Entomologists, or those who make
study of insect life, while
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 TACT, II 'Is uuJstfu faOe
whether il is possible, by simpcf de-
stroying adults, TO keep pace with
their multiplication. On the other
hand, IL these insects should be de-
stroyed in the egg and larval, or grub
stages, a 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-f1ies
breed? According to the best au-
thorities, 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, swarm of flies dart from
the animal to the manure and remain
there a few seconds, or minute at
the most, during which time many
eggs are deposited. Egg laying Is
chiefly during daylight and most
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, IL found in the ground un-
derneath the droppings. The time
which elapses from the egg to the
adult stage, or fay, 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.fedged 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 30 limit the number of fies
coming 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
ranges, although ii might be possible
to carry out this method even undei
such conditions, If he manure around
the places whe<S cattle are In tht
habit of congregating, under Shade
trees, and the like. At best, Il
is a trouble. but it Is not possible
to secure results without some trou
bic, and II we ever expect to reduce
the numbers of these pestiferous in
sects, we will have to get after thei
breeding places and destroy then
there.
The arsenical solution used in tn,
dipping watts destroys large NUMBER
Of these flies, and there are a mum
Der of sprays used to repel then
/. from the animal, such as fish sn'
coal oil emulsions, the various repel
lants on the market, etc, However
none Of these will effectually eradi
cate the horn-ly, while a combination
Of both measures would no doubt Civ,
the most satisfactory results. In sd
attion to its Irritating effect on cal
t)s, the horn-fiy has been found TO b
carrier of Charlton infection,
". II. Dslrympis,
louisiana Stats university