The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1920-10-03
Ptomoxys Calcitrans Cred
tied With Much DAM
age to Stock
BMEDS IN WET STRAW
Sprays Are Risky, Better
Plan of Action Is to De-
stroy Breeding Places.
BY RANnLE rrnn1n,


causing much harm 10 the livestock
OF many sections Of the state is the
PoSslOlhty or spreading contagious
diseases, even the dreaded anthrax.
according TO Professor c. f. sam
porn entomoglolist NJ Oklahoma A..
& NJ. college
Professor Sarborn has made an
investigation OF current conditions
l'Idlir" o tn, f'Y ana has iron red
an article covering the various
phases OF the matter. He says that
Wt straw, particularly that which
SVh'NtG with manure. Is he breed
ing place OF the fly. For temporary
relief for livestock he advocates the
use OF blankets Tade OF burlap or
other material and advises against
y the use Of chemical repellants. Per-
\manent relief is obtained only by
destroying the breeding places.
Az sually heavy and continuous
YaNfall through the summer moaths
Is Irresponsible for the present pre-
valclnce Of the fly in great numbers
Every year the fly is on the Job
In 1905 and again in 1912 the fly
was Particularly large. but not com
parablS to the 1920 army. Wet oat
straw "A better than wet wheat straw
Tor BREEDING places Straw bedding
used in STABLES for animals and then
deposited in piles which cannot be
dried are excellent nurseries.
The pest VS. usually called the sta
Bile fly. its, technical name being
Stomoxys caIcitrans. l.. Entering a
pile OF damp straw. the fly lays
eggs which hatch into magcots with
in few days These maggots feed
on the decayini' straw for about two
weeks. at the end OF which time they
turn brown. transforming into cap
skie-like pupae.A A week later they
become adult kios. Six or seven
broods per sum aper can develop II
they have suitablA breeding material
such as has beenX abundantly avail
able this year.
From many par3 Of the state have
come reports than the milk supply
has been greatly decreased. due to
the fly, and that b,,ef stock is loosing
flesh. and that work animals are
being driven frantic, causing not
only loss OF service of such animals
but runaways OF hitched teams. and
accidents. Even in some instances
stock is killed by the fly bites.
Not only can animal diseases be
transmitted by the fly, but also dis
eases common to humans. Professor
Sanborn says II is an open question
as to whether or not infantile par
siysis and pellagra are transmitted
by flies. Flies can inoculate healthy
animals with germs carried from
diseased animals.
The stable fly resembles the house
fly In general appearance and in
size. However, the mouth parts of
thestabic lily are so snarp tney can
easily pierce the toughest animal
- aides. Dog ears are sometimes
eaten away at the tips.
The backs of cattle become raw
and bloody in spots by the continual
piercing OF the skin by the flies.
Cattle resort to many measures to
dislodge the flies. They galiop
frantically through weeds or under
brush and stand in water If it is
available. Observation shows that
cows, horses and mules will stand
close together. some with their
heads to the others tails, thereby
operating a mutual switching ma
chine. Legs and bellies OF horses
are most seriously infested. Mules
are less able to Withstand the attacks
OF the fly than are horses.
AFTER a certain time some animals
are inclined to give up the fight.
They soon perish because of their
emaciated condition and continual
loss OF blood. Unhealthy animals
succomb first.
The pest will naturally last as long
as favorable weather permits. 1t
does not feed when the temperature
~ lower tran 55 degrees. Hot. dry
weather will not affect the fly so
long as its breeding places are moist.
The adult fly lives, under normal
conditions. less than a month. Cool
weather will bring relief for live
stock.
In discussing methods OF control OF
the fly, Professor Sanborn says that
wet straw piles shulid be sea tered
so that II can dry and should be
.burned or plowed under. Dry straw,
Nled or ell-protected, Is not infest-
Jed. Manure mixed with straw
Fshould be scattered In fields where
IL can soon dry out or be plowed
under or placed in bins screened to
keep out Cor rather keep in the fly.
lTolfCsSo" Sanbcrn says methods of
relief other than control by pre-
Wsnting the development of the fly
ave not satisfactory. Chemical ap-
plications such as repellants require
idhCr and eNpcnsr, Suyl Application
must be repeated so often that bad
results may follow. However, in eX-
tTtIlle cases EtptlIdnNS peGoHle HtCeS-
sary.
Coverings OF burlap or other ma
terial arranged 10 protect work
horses, snow stock and milk cows
are particularly recommended.
Unless the flys breeding places are
controlled the pest Is likely TO hiber-
nate in n miniature form and appear
early next year In damaging number,
declares Professor Sanhorn.
Pofessor A. c. Baer of the A. e NJ.
college department dairying parti-
cularily warns farmers ana uHiry men
against the use OF chemical repel-
lants or sprays, especially at milking
time, because Of the danger or con-
taminat!ng the milk. He advises
blankets.
According to Professor Baer the
output Of the college creamery,
! which is operated on the commercial
basis. has been decreased fifty per
cent recently due 10 the tlyepidemic.
\The college dairy heard has not been
greatly affected. but a large part Of
the milk used by the creamery is
bought from farmers. Other live
itock owned by the college has not
peen Injured to any appreciable OK
ent Because of the fact that the
ollege pastures have been kept clean
lhus eliminating breeding places.
Pofessor Baer says that he has had
pNits which shaw that tho output
II 4.