REMEDIES FOR THE HORN FLY 



BY OLARENCF. M. WEED 



Alxjiit eight years ago there appeared in some of the Eastern 

 States a Hy which attacked cattle iu a niauuer differing some- 

 what from that of the common cattle pests. Its most pecnliar 

 hal)it was that of congregating upon the base of the horn iu 

 clusters as shown in the right hand figure on the front page of 

 this bulletin. On this account the insect became commoulv 

 known as the Horn Fly, although it has since been found that, 

 as a rule, it thus clusters upon the horn only wdien very abun- 

 dant. It maj' be present in annoying numbers without showing 

 this habit. 



After its introduction into New Jersey, where it was first no- 

 ticed in 1887, the Horn Fly spread i-apidly in all directions. 

 In a few years it had covered, practically, the greater portion of 

 the United States and Canada. It has been present in New 

 England for several years, and has lieen sufflciently al)undant 

 to cause considerable annoyance in New Hanipshiie for at least 

 three seasons. The present summer it appears to be more 

 abundant tiian ever. 



The Horn Fly is a small, two-winged, six-legged, grayish- 

 black rty about one-fifth of an inch long. As compared with 

 the common house-tl^' it is much smaller; and is a little smaller, 

 darker, and longer in proportion to its width than the common 

 cattle rty. The legs are long, and the large compound eyes are 

 prominent, covering much of the head. In front of and be- 

 tween the eyes project the two two-jointed "feelers" or anteu- 

 nx, and projecting from the lower side is the proboscis or organ 

 through which the blood of the victim is sucked. The posterior 

 part of the body, called the abdomen, is small and covered with 

 hairs. 



These flies light upon various parts of the cow's body — es- 

 pecially over the shoulders out of reach of the tail — work their 



