TRANSPORTING LIVE HIPPOBOSCIDS (DIPTERA)i 
By I. Barry Tarshis 
Entomology Branch, Camp Detrick, Frederick, Maryland 
During my investigations of the biology of Stilbometopa 
impressa (Bigot) and Lynchia hirsuta Ferris, Hippobos- 
cidae of California quail, Lophortyx calfornica californica 
(Shaw and Nodder) (Tarshis, 1953), it was necessary to 
transport live flies from the fleld to the laboratory. Three 
different methods were evolved, which, together with the 
necessary equipment, are described herewith. 
1. Transporting Live Flies on Quail. The most satisfac- 
tory and the easiest method of transporting live flies from 
the fleld to the laboratory after removal of the flies from 
wild trapped quail (Tarshis, 1952), was the placing of the 
flies on quail in fly-proof cages. Quail used for transport- 
ing flies were brought into the field from the home labora- 
tory as it is a usual requirement that all trapped quail 
be released in the area from which they are taken, after 
the flies are removed and all other necessary procedures or 
observations are completed. 
When the flies are to be introduced in the feathers, the 
bird is placed on its back in the palm of the hand and its 
left wing is raised (this will be the wing towards the 
worker’s right). The total number of flies to be placed on 
the bird are slid out of a shell vial into the crotch formed 
by the bird’s wing and body. The wing is then carefully 
folded back over the flies and held closed so that the flies 
will not escape. The bird is laid on its back in the cage and 
the hand very gently removed. If this procedure is meticu- 
lously followed the bird will remain motionless for at least 
^From the Department of Entomology and Parasitology, University of 
California, Berkeley, California. 
The author wishes to express sincere appreciation to Dr. M. A. Stewart 
of the University of California, Dr. J. Bequaert of Harvard University, 
and Dr. C. M. Herman of the Fish and Wildlife Service for the interest 
and help extended by them to the author during the course of his in- 
ve.stigations. 
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