26 PARASITOLUGY. 
MeLopuacus Ovinus (Mallos—wool, phagein—to eat). 
Synonyits—Sheep-tick; louse-fly. . 
Description The head is small and sunken in the thorax, 
Tt is provided with a tubular-shaped proboscis adapted for 
piercing the skin and sucking the blood. The thorax is 
distinctly separated from the abdomen, and is provided 
with three stout pair of legs, which are covered with hair. 
The last segment of each leg is provided with a bi-dentated 
claw. The abdomen is large, and globular in shape. 
Lite Cycle.—The female lays eight to ten young in 
the form of pupae. The pupal case is ovoid in 
shape and brown in color, and is cemented to a few 
fibres of wool. These hatch in about four weeks. 
Animals Intested.—They are found most abundant 
on long-wooled sheep. After shearing they have a 
tendency to leave the sheared sheep for the lambs. 
Fig. 2—MELOPHAGUS OVINUS, Fig. 3—MELOPHAGUS OVINUS 
a, Head with Piercing Rostrum. Pupa. 
b, Thorax, with 3 Pair of Legs. a, Pupa. 
c, The Large, Globular Abdomen. b, Wool Fibers, 
They live upon blood of the host, and grease or yolk 
of the wool. At point of puncture there is injected 
a small quantity of poison, which causes irritation 
and swelling. 
Symptoms.—The infested sheep rubs, scratches and 
bites itself. When present in large numbers these 
parasites cause unthriftiness and debility. 
Treatment.—The sheep dip or kerosene emulsion 
will kill them. 
Gastrophilus Equi (Gaster-stomach) (Equi—horse) (Phileo—to love.) 
Synonyms.—Horse bot-fly; oestrus equi; gad-fly. 
Fiistory.—They were described by the earliest 
writers and are universally found. 
Description.—A fly about the size of a honey-bee; 
