TACHINIM. 
649 
carefully and completely removed, and the place very thoroughly 
washed out with carbolic acid or other antiseptic solution. The remov¬ 
al of the larvae is made much easier by holding over the wound for 
a short time a rag wetted with chloroform or spirits of turpentine. 
Simple application of carbolic acid, or even corrosive sublimate solution, 
will not necessarily kill the maggots, as like most Muscoid larvae 
they are extremely tenacious of life. The puparium is of the usual rounded 
cylinder type, with well-marked posterior stigmata. The length of the 
life-history of the Indian species appears to vary a good deal, being quite 
short (two to three weeks) in the flesh-eaters and longer in 
the parasitic forms ; the flies can frequently be found breeding in the 
decaying bodies of animals, sometimes in great numbers, together with 
various species of Muscidce, the “blue-bottles” and “blow-flies.” 
Although the flesh-flies are so abundant, the known Indian species 
nearly all belong to one genus Sarcophaga. Van der Wulp lists Cyno- 
myia quadrivittata, Macq., from “ E. India,” and the British Museum 
has a representative of the genus Agria from Karachi. About eight 
species of Sarcophaga appear to be known from this country, and one 
of the commonest, S. lineatocollis , Macq., is shown on PI. LXIX, fig. I . 
Tachinim;. 
Body usually very bristly. Arista hare along its whole length. Proboscis 
occasionally long. Larvae parasitic , adults flower-flies. 
The Tachinidce of all insects are among the most beneficial to the 
agriculturist. This is owing to their being apparently all parasites on 
other insects, and there is no doubt that 
were they absent the damage caused by 
insect pests, especially Lepidoptera, would 
be considerably larger than it is. Though 
Hymenoptera, and occasionally Orthoptera 
and other orders, are attacked, the flies as 
a rule lay their eggs on the bodies of cater¬ 
pillars, generally near the head end. When 
the eggs hatch the young larvae bore through 
the skin into the caterpillar’s body and con¬ 
sume its internal organs; they are thick, fat 
and rounded, with small anterior and large 
posterior spiracles, the segments of the body 
Fig. 425 -Larva of a Para¬ 
sitic Tachinid x 8. 
