ISO INSECTS OF ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



PESTS OF HORSES 



Botfly ^ (GasfropJiilus intcstinalis) 

 Order — Diptera. Manual, p. 477 



The adults are about three-fourths of an inch 

 long and rather light brown in color; the fly does 

 not bite or sting yet many horses are much worried 

 by its presence; authorities differ as to injury by 

 the bots; they may irritate the stomach; may ab- 

 sorb much nutriment from the stomach contents, 

 and cause irritation in the intestines. 



The fly attaches its eggs to the hairs on the legs 

 and shoulders of horse; eggs licked off by horse 

 and carried to stomach where the maggots or ''bots" 

 attach themselves to the walls of this organ; they 

 usually spend several months in the digestive or- 

 gans; probably not more than one maggot in fifty 

 ever reach stomach; they live in the dung during 

 May or June, go into ground and pupate. 



Control — Shave off the eggs with a sharp knife 

 or razor once in two weeks at least; kill eggs by 

 running over them lightly with carbolic acid, 2 per- 

 cent phenol. 



The THROAT BOTFLY ^^ (GasfropJiHus nasalis) 

 Attaches its eggs to the hairs of the lips and 

 nostrils and to the hairs of the throat. 

 Control — Same as foregoing species. 



Horsefly or gadfly ^^ (Tabanits afrafns) 

 Order — Diptera 



A large black fly that flies swiftly, bites fiercely 

 and is a persistent enemy of horses and cattle ; eggs 

 have been found attached to leaves overhanging 

 water; larvae live in marshy ground and along 



9. 10 Dove— U. S. Bu. Ent., Bull. 597- 

 11 Carman— Ken. Expt. Stat., Bull. 151. 



