DIPTIiKA. 



349 



08. Pycnosonia flaviceps. The small figure shows the natural size. 



nial.l 



Distribution. South Kanara, Malabar. Probably throughout 

 Southern India. 



Lifehistory and Food. The grubs feed in rotting organic matter, 

 such as putrefying fish, pupating in the soil when full-fed. The 

 adult flies have brilliant green bodies and red heads and are 

 attracted to animal excrement, decaying organic matter, todd) . et( . 



Status. Has proved a serious pest of Toddy in South Kanara. 

 sucking all the juice exuding from the palm-spathes, fouling the 

 pots, spathes and juice with excrementitious matter, and swarming 

 around the vessels in the Toddy-shops. 



Control. The Hit's may be kept away by tying a cloth sleeve 

 between the palni-spathe and collecting-pot (see also Leaflet No. 

 IV of 1913 issued by the Department of Agriculture. Madras, and 

 Fig. 72 on page 159). 



MUS< \ NEBULO, Kb. 

 I I'lit Indian Houst -fly.) 



Musca 11, hula, Fabr., Ent. Syst, IV. 321 ( 17041 



Musca domestica, Howlett, lnd. Ins. Life, p. (144 [nee Linn.). 



Distribution. Throughout Southern India. 



Lifehistory and Food. Eggs are laid on decaying animal or vi ge- 

 table matter, chiefly in night soil and in refuse around slaughter- 

 houses, etc., on which the whitish maggots feed on hatchii 

 pupating in the soil when full-grown. The length of the life-cycle 

 varies with temperature but is probably about 10 days in the 

 Plains. 



Status. This pest and its allies deserve to be bracketed with the 

 Rat-flea and Anopheline Mosquitos amongst the mosl common 

 causes ot ill-health amongst the inhabitants ol India. Bred 



