652 



THE BREEZE-FLY AND THE BOT-FLY. 



insects are perfectly harmless, although ignorant people are afraid to 

 loiich them. But in their larval condition they are fearful pests, living 

 iust below the surface of the ground and feeding on the roots of grasses. 



W hole acres of grass have been destroy- 

 ed by these larvae, and some years ago 

 Blackheath Park was so infested with 

 them that in the beginning of autumn 

 the ground was covered thickly with 

 the empty pupa-cases of the escaped 

 insect. 



The common Breeze-fly is a well- 

 known British example of the Ta- 

 banidse. It is also known by the 

 popular names of Gad-fly and 

 The Gad-fly {Tahanus bovlnm). ^^^^ ^^ -^ ^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^ females 



are the only bloodsuckers, but they exert their sanguinary ability with 

 terrible force. 



The Bot-fly, a large and bold-looking insect, belongs to the 

 family of the CEstridse. All these insects are parasitic in or upon an- 

 imals. The larva of this Bot-fly resides in the interior of horses, and 

 is conveyed there in a very curious manner. The parent-fly deposits 

 her eggs upon the hairs near the shoulders of the horse, where the 

 animal is sure to lick them in order to rid itself of the unpleasant 

 feeling caused by 

 agglutinated hairs. 

 The eggs are thus 

 conveyed to the 

 stomach, to the 

 coats of which or- 

 gan the larvae cling, 

 and there remain 

 until they have at- 

 tained their full 

 growth. They then 

 loosen their hold, 

 and are carried, to- 

 gether with the 

 food, through the 

 interior of the ani- 

 mal, fall to the 

 ground, and im- 

 mediately begin to burrow. They remain underground until they have 

 undergone their metamorphoses, and then emerge in the shape of the 

 perfect insect. 



The Bot-fly {(Estrus Equi). 



