BlTlNG I'LIES. 



'i6) 



Much has yet to be learnt of them and of the bots which probably attack 

 wild animals in India. Cases arc on record of bots in human beingSj but 

 uo precise details are available. 



Biting Flies. 



At least one species of fly, allied to the notorious tse-tse fly of 

 Africa, is found in India biting- cattle, horses and man. This insect ^ 

 is not universally distributed in India ; it breeds in manure, decaying 

 vegetation and filth in places where animals are kept. The life-history 

 occupies three weeks,^ and the flies are found sitting on trees and plants 

 near their breeding places. 



They suck blood from cattle, horses and man, biting particularly 

 in the early morning : the bite is said to be painful. This fly is 

 instrumental in the spread of " surra ^^ in horses and other animals. 

 It is kept in check by hymeuopterous parasites which are found in the 

 larvse and pupae. 



Screw Worms. 



Certain flies lay their eggs or larvse in wounds on animals, the 

 maggots living in the wound and setting up inflammation and blood 

 poisoning. The Screw Worm of the United States and the West Indies 

 is notorious as a destructive pest, even attacking man and causing death. 

 Similar maggots have been found in wounded cattle in India, though 

 it is not known to what species they belong. These flies are allied to 

 the common flesh flies and house flies, their normal breeding place 

 being decaying animal matter. The treatment consists in smearing 

 wounds, sores, etc., with antiseptic mixtures such as carbolised oil ; a clean 

 aseptic wound is not infested. If larvse are already in the wound, 

 they should be removed, the wound washed and plugged with antiseptic 

 dressing. Such maggots are by no means uncommon in human beings in 

 India and are due solely to uncleanness and the neglect of wounds and 

 sores. The actual species concerned has not been ascertained. 



^ Stomoxi/s calcitrans. 



2 As worked out by P. G. Patel in Nongpoh. 



