(1) Life cycle ([fig. 46]). (a) Pigeon flies live among body feathers.
(b) They leave the birds only to deposit larvae, or when disturbed.
(c) Adult flies suck blood from the birds.
(d) Female flies deposit living larvae in or around the nest bowl, nest box, or around the loft.
(e) Newly deposited larvae are white and about the size of a small buck shot. Within a few hours, a hard shell forms around them and they turn from white to brown and then to jet black.
(f) Young flies emerge from these shells in about 30 days and are ready for their first meal of blood.
Figure 43. Life cycle of pigeon fly.
(2) Diagnosis. Pigeon flies can easily be observed crawling among the bird’s feathers. Their movement as well as biting greatly annoys the birds. However, the greatest damage they do is transmitting pigeon malaria.