CHAPTER XIX. 



INSECT PESTS. 



Insect Pests. There are three varieties of flies which 

 bother range animals throughout the West. First in 

 the list is the little black horn fly (Hoematobia serrata) 

 so-called because of its habit of settling in great masses 

 on an animal's head about the base of the horns. The top 

 of the withers is also a favorite camping-place for them. 

 They are so persistent in their blood-sucking attacks that 

 often the base of the horn will be all raw and sore. 



These flies were first noticed in the United States in 

 1887 in New Jersey and later in Maryland and Virginia. 

 They are well known in Europe and were doubtless im- 

 ported from there either in dry hides or on live cattle. 

 The report of the Secretary of Agriculture for 1887 men- 

 tions them as new arrivals. Now they are to be found 

 all over the United States. 



Like all flies, they breed in horse or cow manure, and 

 little can be done to prevent their increase. Gentle 

 cattle, like milk cows, may be protected from their attacks 

 by using fish or train oil as an emulsion to be sprayed 

 over the animals or daubed on with a swab. There are 

 several kinds of patent mixtures on the market intended 

 for this purpose ; most of them are based on fish oil and 

 a slight amount of carbolic acid. These are all good and 

 sprayed over the animals every day will relieve them of 

 an immense amount of worry. This is especially true of 



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