218 



The Felted Beech Coccus. 



become strong thorns. These minute larvae attach themselves 

 by means of their hooks to the mucous membrane of the nostril, 

 and immediately begin to make their way upward into the 

 nostrils, using their hooks and their ventral spines to aid their 

 progress. 



In the nostrils they remain until matured, when they average 

 three-fourths of an inch in length by one-third in breadth. 

 During their residence there they irritate and annoy the sheep, 

 causing thickening of the nasal mucous membrane, and a 

 catarrhal discharge from one or both nostrils, with sneezing and 

 snuffling, and sometimes more serious symptoms which may end 

 in emaciation, convulsions, and death. Having arrived at 

 maturity, the larva escapes from the nostril, falls to the ground, 

 and bores into it for an inch or two. It remains there for a 

 few weeks, during which time (from four to eight weeks) the 

 fly develops within the larval case, and eventually pushes off 

 a little round cap, and ascends to the surface of the ground 

 up the hole which the larva left in its descent. The fly then 

 crawls upon some neighbouring grass or twig, and rests there 

 until its wings and body have hardened. This takes a few days, 

 but ultimately the stage of perfection is reached, and when the 

 conditions are favourable it ascends into the air, and finds its 

 way towards the sheep, where under suitable circumstances its 

 life cycle is completed. 



In combating the attacks of this fly, preventive measures are 

 much more likely to be successful than curative. The nose and 

 lower parts of the sheep's face should be dressed with a mixture 

 of tar and fish oil, in equal parts, put on with a brush, at 

 intervals of two to three days, during the periods at which 

 the gad-fly is most prevalent. This would prevent the fly from 

 depositing its larva in the nostrils. 



The Felted Beech Coccus. 



The scale insect known as the Felted Beech Coccus {Crypto- 

 coccus fagi, Barensprung) chiefly attacks the trunks of beech 

 trees, but sometimes ascends into the boughs. The females 

 produce larvae in September ; these envelop themselves in a 



