225 



npliids of rape that tliey hod eaten. The results of tlie experi- 

 ments were in the negative ; after eating apliis-infested rape for 

 6 days, the sheep showed no signs of illness. 



Majok (11. S.). The Maggot Fly Pest in Sheep. — Agric. Gaz., 

 .v., SMI'., Syihicij, xxiv, no. 8, Aug. 191:3, pp. 645-652. 



The Maggot Fly is responsible for the loss of millions of sheep 

 annually throughout Australia ; its increase during the past ten 

 years is attributed largely to certain years of drought. There 

 are four species of blow-fly on sheep — Calliphora villosa, C. 

 ocenia, C. rufifacies and Lucilia sericata. Sheep with wool con- 

 taining the greatest amount of grease (suint) are the most liable 

 to attack. Dips liave been used without much success, as the 

 maggots are extremely resistant and can withstand tar, kerosene, 

 etc. Any dip must be such that it will destroy the maggot with- 

 out interfering with the wool or harming the skin of the animal ; 

 it should not be poisonous as the sheep might poison itself by 

 biting its own wool and skin ; and it must be cheap and easy to 

 apply. No such specific is at present known, although many are 

 being tried on different farms. Crutching is recommended, and 

 it should be done about 6 months after shearing. From experi- 

 ments conducted by the Clarence Board of Agriculture in Tas- 

 mania in 1909 as to the effects of arsenical dips on ticks, it was 

 shown that a proper immersion would kill the ticks and nymphs ; 

 but the treatment of the maggot is more diificult. The adoption 

 on all stations of a rigid system of properly burning all dead 

 sheep and other stock must have a good effect in checking the 

 rapid increase of the flies. If burning is impracticable on account 

 of a lack of wood, burying may be substituted. 



Swingle (L. D.). The Life History of the Sheep Tick {Melophayus 

 villus). — Univ. Wijoming Aqric. Expt. Stn., Laramie, 

 Bull. 99, July 1913, pp. 1-24, 3 figs. 



In the present paper the life-history of this parasitic fly alone is 

 discussed, the consideration of its eradication being left for a later 

 bullelin. The whole life of the fly is spent on the sheep and there- 

 fore its life-history is less complex than that of the true tick. 

 As is well known, the egg hatches and the larva develops 

 through all its stages within the body of the female, being 

 extruded as a mature larva, which changes into a pupa about 

 12 hours later. (For convenience, the term pupa is used to 

 designate the offspring from the time of extrusion until emer- 

 gence.) The pupal stage lasts during the summer from 19-23 

 days ; in the winter from 19-36 days, when the sheep are kept 

 in a barn, and probably longer if they are kept outside. The 

 time from emergence to deposition of the first pupa varies from 

 14-30 days, and pairing takes place within 3 to 4 days after 

 hatching. The ticks do not live more than a few days off their 

 host. Females were kept under observation for 5^ months. 



