Evening Republican, Volume 59, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1917 — Untitled [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

«*i| ESIDES literally worrying cattle, unties and horst's to A death anti killing them f>y extracting their liiood. the deadly fly also transmits disease from one animal to another. A tropical sickness known as surra is undoubtedly transmitted thus. Fortunately this does not oc®/ in the United States at present. but unless great care is exercised in importing stock it may be introduced at any time and -the—deadlyfly given a chance to spread it. A related disease 'of cattle’,' Tiofses litfd sheep, known as souma. and a malady of hogs and cats are also carried, at least in part, by this same insect. Investigators consider the fly to be arv in transmitting glanders, while? m. disease known as infectious anemia or swamp fever of horses is thought by some to be carried by this A nnmhor of vp:irs turo it wus found to act as a transmitter of a species of roundworm that infects cattle. Animals weakened by lossj»f Wood are_ more prone to contract other diseases, “Texas fever" in an acute form often attacks live stock that has become less energetic in fighting with stable flies. The joints of both horses and cattle sometimes become so swollen from standing in water where they sought protection from flies, that they can hardly walk. Even man may be inoculated with disease by this pest. Septicemia (blood-poisoning) is considered to be -carried by It ami demonstrations of famous physicians have pointed to the possibility of the transmission of infantile paralysis in the same manner. Thus it will be-seen that tlie-transmi*--sion of a formidable array of diseases is Ichargeahle to the stable fly. The stable fly is one of the most widely distributed of insects, being common in both tropical and temper-

ate regions where domestic animals are -reared. In regions bordering on the tropics the flies are of importance throughout the entire year. In the extreme southern part of our country there is no month during the year in which flies are not annoying to horses and cattle. In the Northern states, the fly is particularly injurious and abundant in the late summer and fall. . - - Investigations made during recent years showed dearly that the vast majority of stable flies bred in straw stacks. It was also shown- that while the fly breeds in pure horse manure, it favors a mixture ot this substance with straw. The fly was found to be breeding in much greater abundance 4u oat straw than’in wheat straw. Rice straw was also -found to furnish suitable' breeding conditions and there is little doubt that barley and rye also serve as food for the immature stages of the insect. The development of this insect is somewhat slower than that of the housefly and it is therefore quite necessary that the eggs be deposited in rather large quantities of material Writ: to breed out successfully. ;As with most insects, the destruction of this one when irTs actualjy doing the injury is what is most desited by those concerned. With this species, as with many _otlier&_ihis_ is the most difficult time to accomplish the desired result. Ouring a recent outbreak in Texas many different substances were tried with a view of repelling the flies from live stock. Although some materials gave a ineiisun l of protection" for a tiuje. none had a lasting effect. Jttaddition to the temporary value of these substances, injury was sometimes produced by their application. Many malodorous mixtures, particularly of an oily nature, have some value, but in preparing these care should be taken that they are not made too strong, particularly when animals are being worked in the hot sun. If they are made too strong they are likely to cause overheating of the animal and produce shedding of the hair.

The Stable Fly. The Housefly.