BLACK-FLIES. 



175 



-whicli repel these insects to some extent; dark stables are 

 also a partial protection, also greasing with strong- 

 smelling oils. 



Nobody can realize the beauty of a southern scenery who 

 has not been there during plowing-time and when the 

 buifalo-gnats were out in force. Just imagine a mule coated 

 wath stinking oil, or painted with mud or molasses, pulling 

 a plow from which is suspended a tin pail containing a 

 smudge, wdiile the mule is further adorned by another tin- 

 pail suspended from its neck; the latter contains also glow- 



Fig. 143. — Simulium minutuin. Female. Greatly enlarged. Original. 



ing embers in which are produced such fine odors as can be 

 made by burning leather and similar substances. 



The losses caused by this insect are, in some years, very 

 great, and the State of Tennessee alone lost in 1874 as much 

 as $500,000. This southern Buffalo-gnat occurs as far north 

 as Minneapolis, at least a few specimens have been found 

 there. Here in Minnesota we have a number of other species 

 of this family of flies, which cause more or less injury to our 

 stock. A few of them are illustrated in figs. 143 to 151. The 

 first species seen and felt occurs very early in spring, soon 

 after the snow has disappeared. It is a very small species, 



