4-H CLUB INSECT MANUAL 31 
manure seems to be the preferred breeding ground, although the larvae 
may be found in other decaying vegetation. Fly sprays will kill the 
adults but they afford only temporary relief. 
Syrphid flies ——Another family of flies that are quite often found 
hovering around flowers, or places where there is an abundance of 
plant lice, is the syrphid flies, of which there 
are a great many kinds. Although there is a 
wide variation in these insects, many have de- 
cided markings on the abdomen. The adults 
of this group have two wings and sucking 
mouth parts. These flies have complete life 
changes. Some larvae feed on aphids. One 
would need to examine but few colonies of 
plant lice before finding a very small, leg- 
less, sluglike creature feeding on the lice. 
This is the larva of the syrphus fly. These  weurm 76—syrphus fy. 
flies remain over winter in the pupal stage 
among leaves on the ground or on stems of plants. Since they are 
beneficial, no control measures are necessary. The syrphus fly shown 
here is Syrphus ribesit, which varies from three-eighths to one-half 
inch in length. 
Flesh fly —During the summertime any meat or dead animal will 
draw a number of flies. Among the number will be found some that 
are rather large, with black stripes on their backs 
and their abdomens covered with hairs. Many have 
red eyes. Like the other Diptera, the blowflies have 
two wings. The adults feed upon carrion and flow- 
ers, and the maggots upon meat. Some may be con- 
sidered beneficial because the maggots help to de- 
stroy dead animals; others are pests because they 
feed on living tissue at open wounds and cause much 
suffering, loss of flesh, and sometimes death of 
animals. The pests can be controlled by good 
animal-husbandry practices, but in some cases medi- 
~~ =4 cation 1s necessary. These insects overwinter in the 
Migune (7—Hlesh puparium in the soil. The flesh fly here shown is 
Sarcophaga plinthopyga. ‘This species is from one- 
fourth to one-half of an inch in length. 
Greenbottle fiies—Around meat or dead animals may also be 
found a number of metallic, shiny, green or blue flies, slightly larger 
than the housefly, the greenbottle or bluebottle 
flies. These insects have lapping mouth parts and 
two wings. They feed on carrion and flowers, and 
overwinter in the puparium in the soil. They 
have complete life changes. The larvae or mag- 
gots feed on decaying meat and may be consid- 
ered beneficial. In case the adults become pests, 
they may be controlled by sprays and by burn- 
ing or burying decaying meat or dead animals 7% #.». 
so that breeding will not take place. The green-  ricurn 78—Green- 
bottle fly pictured here is Lucilia sericata; this oun Aye 
species is from one-fourth to three-eighths of an inch long. 
