322 INSECTS 



Mr Howes says (1919): "From a mass of wool swarming with 

 maggots, I bred out three different flies, none of which were Lucilia 

 ceesar" Mr Miller writes me: "This fly is abundant everywhere, 

 living often on decaying vegetable matter. It is, however, particularly 

 a carrion fly, though it also feeds on excrement." It is a fly which 

 increases rapidly, the female laying from 3000 to 6000 eggs. 



This species is a familiar flower-visitant, and in Europe fertilises 

 the flowers of the following species of plants introduced into New 

 Zealand : 



Ranunculus sceleratus, R. acris, R. repens, Bellis perennis, Achillcea millefolium, 



R. bulbosus. Cnicus arvensis, Matricaria inodora, 



Brassica nigra. Anthemis arvensis, Chrysanthemum 



Stellaria media, Cerastium triviale. Leucanthemum, Senecio jacobcea, Ta- 



Geranium molle. nacetum vulgare, Cnicus lanceolatus, 



Cratcegus oxyacantha? Taraxacum officinale. 



Rubus idceus, Pyrus mains, Pyrus aucu- Solanum tuberosum. 



paria. Mentha piperita, M. aquatica. 



Carum Petroselinum, C. carui, Conium Euphorbia helioscopia, E. Peplus. 

 maculatum, Daucus Carota. 



Lucilia sericata, Macq. Sheep-maggot Fly 



Mr Hudson took this species at Karori in 1883. It appeared in 

 North Otago in 1906, when attention was drawn to its occurrence, 

 and steps taken to arrest its progress. Also found in Mackenzie 

 country. It reappeared again in 1907-8, in Palmerston South. In 

 1909 it was abundant everywhere. It is chiefly found in South Island. 

 Lucilia sericata (in Europe) visits -flowers of Medicago saliva, 

 Achillcea millefolium, Cnicus arvensis, and Senecio jacobcea. 



Stomoxys calcitrans, Fabr. The Biting House Fly ; Stable Fly 



Common in both islands. I noted it near Dunedin in 1893, and 

 Capt. Hutton found it later near Christchurch. Mr Hudson found 

 it in Wellington in May, 1889. Dr Hilgendorf says: 



An observation in 1917 showed that the inhabitants of a stable were 

 50 per cent. Stomoxys, and 50 per cent, of Musca domestica ; of a pig-sty, 

 95 per cent, of Musca and 5 per cent. Stomoxys; and of a house near by 

 100 per cent. Musca. 



This fly is about the size of the common house-fly (Musca domes- 

 tica), but is at once distinguished by its needle-like proboscis, with 

 which it gives a fierce puncture of the skin. It is much quicker in 

 its movements also, due, no doubt, to its inherited need of escaping 

 rapidly from the animal it has pierced. It easily punctures through 

 one's clothes. 



The species is probably common throughout New Zealand. In 

 Europe it visits the flowers of: 



Hypericum perforatum. 



Achillcea millefolium and Cnicus arvensis ; and Mentha aquatica. 





