II July, 1910.] Household Insect Pests. 481 



The Blow Fly is another annoying pest. It i)reeds in decaying 

 animal matter, depositing on meat either raw or cooked, or even on wounds 

 on living animals. On damp wool on the rumps of sheep, there may be 

 seen great numbers of eggs, known as " fly blows " which will issue as 

 maggots. Cocoons of blow flies ha-\e been found in sand in Victoria. A 

 few years ago my brother, Mr. G. French, came across some hundreds 

 ■of cocoons in a heap of sand. On my placing them in a breeding cage 

 the flies emerged. There was no animal matter of any kind whatever on 

 the sand, and so the question arises as to how the maggots fed. 



The remedies suggested for treatment of the house fly may be carried 

 out for this fly also. Meat .should be placed in safes, but .should also 

 le wrapped in calico or thin papeer. I have seen meat blown in a meat 

 safe when left unwrapped, as the ovipositor of the fly is fairly long and 

 can protrude through the small holes in the wire netting. Sprinkling pepper 

 on the meat is also a preventive ; it can easily be washed oft" before using. 



Mosquitoes. 



We ha\e in Victoria a fair number of species of these troublesome 

 insects, principally Culex ; also the Malarial Mosquito and Anopheles. 

 The distinction between Culex and Anopheles is that the former has clear 

 wings whilst the latter has dark spotted wings. Fortunately, we have 

 no malaria in this State. It may not generally be known that it is only the 

 female mosquito that bites. The eggs of Culex are laid on stagnant 

 water ^ and it is estimated that up to 400 are deposited at a time. In 

 V. arm weather, eggs hatch a few hours after they are laid. They spend 

 usually 6 or 7 days as larvae, and a couple of days as pupae, so that their 

 complete life history cycle covers 10 days in all. If the weather is cold, 

 it takes much longer to develop ; but in this State, with our mild winter, 

 the mosquitoes no doubt emerge the whole year round. 



Remedies. — Undoubtedly, the most satisfactory ways of fighting 

 mosquitoes are those which result in the destruction of the larvae, or their 

 breeding places. Kerosene, i oz. to 15 sq. ft. of water surface, is very 

 effective. It may be undesirable to so treat some places, especially water 

 for domestic purposes, although this has been done without harm where the 

 supply is drawn from the bottom of the tanks. If mosquito larvae are 

 noticed in still water in tanks, tubs, and the like, it is advisable to agitate 

 the water by stirring ; this will destroy the eggs and any larvae that are being 

 luitched. If this is done regularly it will certainlv lessen the increase of 

 these insects. In America, some persons keep their tanks free by putting 

 in a little wheel, which is turned by the windmill and keeps the water con- 

 stantly agitated. Mosquitoes fortunately have natural enemies ; amongst 

 these are the larvae of the dragon fly, commonly, but erroneously, called 

 Horse Stingers." The larvae of water beetles also eat an enormous 

 quantity of mosquito larvae. Stocking the water with fish (the common 

 goldfish being one of the best) is a valuable means of keeping this pest in 

 •check, as the fish destroy great numbers of larvae. 



Our insect eating birds, such as the swallows, reed warblers, fly 

 catchers, and grass birds, play an important part in mosquito prevention, 

 and these birds should be afforded every protection. If mosquitoes invade 

 a bedroom mosquito cones may be used. The fumes from these soon rid 

 a hou.se of them. Various insecticides are also greatly used. Receptacles 

 difiicult of removal, such as water tanks and barrels, should be tightly 

 screened to prevent the female insect from reaching the water to deposit 

 her eggs. The water should be drawn ofi^ for use from below. 



