PUPIPARA 6ll 



[The genus Philaematomyia, Austen, is intermediate between Stomoxys and 

 Musca in structure, and between the non-blood-sucking Musca, as M. domestica, 

 and the blood-sucking Musca pattoni, Austen, which feeds on the blood exuding 

 from the bites of true blood-suckers. They occur in Central Africa and India, 

 Ceylon and Cyprus (vide " The Life-history of Philcematomyia insignis, Austen," 

 Ann. Trap. Med. and Par., 1912, v, p. 515). 



[Two flies belonging to the family Anthomyidae also attack man, namely : 



[Hydrotcea meteorica, L. (the meteoric fly). This fly attacks man as well as 

 animals. They especially bite around the eyes and nostrils of animals, but are not 

 so particular with man ; the head, however, is usually chosen. Linnaeus called it 

 the meteoric fly because it often forms clouds around horses' heads at the approach 

 of rain. The Hydrotasas are usually black or blue-black in colour with bare eyes 

 and simple abdomen, the front femora peculiarly constructed. H. meteorica, L., 

 occurs in Britain. 



[The members of the genus Hydrophoria, Desvoidy, also bite man. 



Pupipara or Eproboscida. 



[The Pupipara are all blood-suckers, the majority occurring as parasites on 

 mammals and birds, where they are more or less permanent parasites. Occasionally 

 some may attack man. They all produce their young fully formed, and they assume 

 the pupal stage immediately after extrusion. The puparia are large. They are 

 mostly flat, louse-like flies which may or may not be winged. In the case of Melo- 

 phagus I have found the puparia are often passed by the female. The winged forms 

 have a short quick flight, and when disturbed will seek shelter in man's hair or 

 beard. Two main families occur : (i) the Hippoboscidce, and (2) the Nycteribiida. 

 The former occur on animals and birds, the latter on bats only, but may invade 

 man. Two other families are known the Braulidcs (bee parasites) and the Streblidce 

 (bat parasites). 



[The mouth of the Hippoboscidce is long and sharp, forming a proboscis. The 

 thorax and abdomen are flat and leathery. The legs are stout and strong, and 

 terminate in large dentate claws and other structures of use in holding on to the 

 hair or feathers of their host when blood-sucking. 



[Austen says it is probable that the Hippoboscidce are descended from ancestors 

 belonging to the Muscida, which underwent modification in bodily structure as the 

 consequence of the adoption of a parasitic mode of life. 



[Two wings are present in the true Hippoboscae, Hippobosca-equina (of the horse), 

 H. camelina (of the camel), H. maculata (of oxen), and H. cafiensis (of dogs), but 

 are absent in Melophagus, the sheep tick or ked fly (M. ovinus). 



[In two genera, Lipoptena and Echestypus, wings are at first present, but are 

 lost as soon as the fly finds its permanent host. 



[With regard to their biting man, such is only occasional. I have known sheep 

 shearers to be badly bitten by Melophagus ovinus, and have more than once been 

 attacked myself when standing where shearing is taking place. Sharp records the 

 grouse parasite, Ornithomyia lagopodis, as once biting severely a gamekeeper in 

 Scotland. There are also records of H. maculata biting man in Africa and India. 



[Although so far not connected with any human disease, it is interesting to note 

 Theiler has shown that Hippobosca rufipes, v. Olfers, and H. mactdata, Leach, are 

 capable of transmitting Trypanosoma theileri, Laveran, the cause of gall sickness 

 amongst cattle in the Transvaal. It is now considered, however, that Trypano- 

 soma theileri is non-pathogenic, and that the cause of gall sickness is a piro- 

 plasma-like organism known as Anaplasma marginale. Theiler, Laveran and 



