282 



ORDER DIPT ERA 



necessarily fail to be complete in its operation, but much less 

 expensive than the use of a shovel by hand. 



The Stable Fly {Stomoxys calcitrans, Linn.). — The stable 

 fly is a well-known species which is widely distributed and a 

 familiar pest in many countries. Its bite is severe and it 

 causes a great amount of annoyance to cattle, horses and 

 other domestic animals, and is frequently very troublesome 

 to people working in places where it abounds. It is not 

 confined to stables or to the quarters of domestic animals, 

 but occurs frequently in shady places, gro\es and in dwell- 



FiG. 226. — Stomoxys calcitrans: adult, larva, puparium, and details — all 

 enlarged. (From Howard, Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Ag.) 



ings, especially in cloudy weather, and puts the occupants 

 to great inconvenience. Its bite is not poisonous, and aside 

 from the pain given and the possibility of it disseminating 

 disease, it is less injurious than some other members of the 

 group. When abundant, however, this annoyance may be 

 very great, and they all deserve attention. Indeed, it is 

 especially charged against this species that they have been 

 the means of transmitting glanders from diseased to healthy 

 horses, and anthrax among cattle, a charge which appears 

 very reasonable from the fact that it inflicts a deep bite and 



