_Auchmeromyia luteola_, the Congo floor maggot. This is a muscid of grewsome habits, which has a wide distribution throughout Africa. The fly (fig. 86) deposits its eggs on the ground of the huts of the natives. The whitish larvæ (fig. 85) on hatching are slightly flattened ventrally, and each segment bears posteriorly three foot-pads transversely arranged. At night the larvæ find their way into the low beds or couches of the natives and suck their blood. The adult flies do not bite man and, as far as known, the larvæ do not play any rôle in the transmission of sleeping sickness or other diseases. This habit of blood-sucking by muscid larvæ is usually referred to as peculiar to _Auchmeromyia luteola_ but it should be noted that the larvæ of _Protocalliphora_ frequent the nests of birds and feed upon the young. Mr. A. F. Coutant has studied especially the life-history and habits of _P. azurea_, whose larvæ he found attacking young crows at Ithaca, N.Y. He was unable to induce the larvæ to feed on man. [Illustration: 87. Cordylobia anthropophaga (×3). After Fülleborn.] [Illustration: 88. Larva of Cordylobia anthropophaga. After Blanchard.] _Cordylobia anthropophaga_, (_Ochromyia anthropophaga_), or Tumbu-fly (fig. 87) is an African species whose larvæ affect man much as do those of _Dermatobia cyniventris_, of Central and South America. The larva (fig. 88), which is known as "ver du Cayor" because it was first observed in Cayor, in Senegambia, develops in the skin of man and of various animals, such as dogs, cats, and monkeys. It is about 12 mm. in length, and of the form of the larvæ of other muscids. Upon the intermediate segments are minute, brownish recurved spines which give to the larva its characteristic appearance. The life-history is not satisfactorily worked out, but Fuller (1914), after reviewing the evidence believes that, as a rule, it deposits its young in the sleeping places of man and animals, whether such be a bed, a board, the floor, or the bare ground. In the case of babies, the maggots may be deposited on the scalp. The minute maggots bore their way painlessly into the skin. As many as forty parasites have been found in one individual and one author has reported finding more than three hundred in a spaniel puppy. Though their attacks are at times extremely painful, it is seldom that any serious results follow. THE SIPHONAPTERA OR FLEAS The SIPHONAPTERA, or fleas (fig. 89) are wingless insects, with highly chitinized and laterally compressed bodies. The mouth-parts are formed for piercing and sucking. Compound eyes are lacking but some species possess ocelli. The metamorphosis is complete.