70 



MISC. PUBLICATION 631, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Belgian Congo, Angola, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, 

 Southern Rhodesia, South-West Africa, Transvaal, Natal, Orange Free State, 

 Cape of Good Hope, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Aldabra Island, Seychelles, 

 Rodriquez. 



Biology and Pathogenesis. — This is one of the principal sheep 

 maggots of South Africa, where, however, it seems to act as predator 

 on the primary parasites, and to invade only diseased tissue of its 

 vertebrate host. In most parts of its wide range it appears to be 



Figure 32. — Chrysomya albiceps: (a), larva; (b). 

 (After Sinit (143, p. 369).) 



posterior spiracles of larva. 



purely a scavenger and the biological equivalent of the Australian 

 C. rujvfacies. 



Literature. — Considerable information bearing on the life history 

 and immature stages is given by Smit ( 1]$, p. 310). 



CHRYSOMYA CHLOROPYGA (Wiedemann) 



The Green-tail Bluebottle ; the Green-and-blue Blowfly 



Recognition Characters. — Adult: This species is readily recognizable from 

 the characters given in the key, the black L and reverse L of the presutural 

 area of the mesonotum being outstandingly characteristic. The last two ab- 

 dominal segments are brassy green in contrast to the blue of the rest of the 

 abdomen and of the thorax. Length, 8-10 mm. Larva (fig. 33) : The mature 

 larvae are yellowish, about 12 mm. in length, and are distinguished from other 

 species by the strongly sclerotized peritreme of the posterior spiracles. The 

 anterior spiracles terminate in 10 or 11 processes. 



Geographical Distribution. — Ethiopian Region : Belgian Congo, Angola, 

 Kenya, Tanganyika, Southern Rhodesia, South-West Africa, Transvaal, Natal, 

 Orange Free State, Cape of Good Hope. 



Biology and Pathogenesis. — A female may produce 400 to 500 

 eggs, or perhaps more. The eggs hatch in from 8 hours to 3 days ; the 

 larvae develop rapidly, maturing under South African conditions in 

 3 days in hot weather. The mature maggot migrates from the flesh to 

 the soil, and there pupates. Smit reared eight generations of this fly 

 in 13 months under natural temperature conditions in South Africa; 

 there it breeds continuously throughout the year, although low winter 

 temperatures affect it adversely. 



