Plague of Blood-sucking Flies in Yugoslavia

Abstract

WE learn from the Times of May 12 that an insect plague is causing serious trouble in parts of Yugoslavia. The insect in question is referred to as the lsq;golubatz fly’, which has recently appeared in parts of the country not previously troubled by the pest. Several peasants and some 500 cattle and sheep have already perished. A poisonous fluid injected by the fly has the effect of breaking down the red blood corpuscles, so that when the ‘bites’ become numerous death may supervene. From the account given, it is evident that the fly in question is a species of Simulium or buffalo gnat. This genus comprises blood-sucking flies which are troublesome pests in several parts of the world. In regions bordering on the Danube the species S. columbaczense, which is most probably the fly involved in the present outbreak, causes at times heavy mortality, especially among horses, as the result of its blood-sucking propensities. Its larvae and pupae live in streams and rivers while the adult flies sometimes occur in immense swarms. In 1923, an invasion in Rumania is computed to have caused a loss to farmers of about £80,000 through the deaths of horses, sheep, pigs and other domestic animals. Although human beings are also attacked and severely bitten, fatal cases seem to occur but seldom. In their efforts to control the plague, the farmers used smoke screens and applied various repellent smears to their stock. Much the same methods are being used in the present outbreak, the peasants lighting bonfires in order to protect their stock, the herds being kept indoors during the day and allowed to graze only between sunset and sunrise. A feature of such outbreaks is that the flies Vnay be carried long distances by the wind, with the consequent invasion of areas where the farmers have no previous experience in applying control measures.