1920.] 



The Warble Fly. 



997 



eggs on the cattle. Some protection may, however, be affordea 

 by giving the cattle access to shade and water in which they 

 can stand, and it is worth remembering that yearling and two- 

 year-old bullocks and heifers are more subject to warble fly 

 attack than young calves, and calves more than milch cows. 



The most effectual method of exterminating the insects at 

 present known is to squeeze out and destroy the ripe maggots, 

 beginning early in May and continuing during June, July and 

 August. Where several maggots are removed from a small 

 area of skin, it is advisable to apply carbolic oil. Several types 

 of " dip " and " smear " are of some value in killing warble 

 maggots, but none is yet known to be so certainly deadly in its 

 effect on the maggots, and at the same time harmless to the 

 cattle, as to warrant its general recommendation as an 

 alternative to the more troublesome but effective squeezing 

 out operation, and it is the latter which is recommended for the 

 present. 



An appeal is made to cattle owners in their own interests to 

 kill as many warble maggots as they possibly can, and not only 

 to destroy the pest themselves, but to persuade neighbouring 

 farmers to do the same, for unless the practice is general over 

 wide areas the results will be disappointing. 



Farmers do not seem to realise that they are themselves 

 bearing a high proportion of the immense loss occasioned by 

 warbles, as they are every year getting lower prices for their 

 cattle than they would command if warbles were exterminated 

 or even greatly reduced in number. Warbles are certainly 

 troublesome pests to deal with, but if all farmers would, for any 

 two or three years, take the necessary steps, there is no reason 

 why the insects should not be almost exterminated. The 

 higher prices which would then be obtained per beast would 

 compensate many times over for the trouble taken in eradi- 

 cating the pest. 



(This Article is also issued as a Leaflet, known as A. 312/1. 

 Copies may he obtained free of charge and post free on application 

 to the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, 3, St. 

 James's Square, London, S.W. i. Letters of application so 

 addressed need not he stamped.) 



