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Summary
264 larvae and two eggs of the goat warble fly were collected in 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Culture of larvae on various media in the laboratory was unsuccessful. Some mature third instar larvae pupated naturally and 13 flies eventually emerged.
A description is given of the eggs, which are unlike any others so far described, and a description of a pupa that developed from a larva identified as P. aegagri is also given.
Warbles were seen in goats from early October to early March. Pupation lasted between 45 and 76 days, but nearly all flies emerged in mid-April during a period of warm weather. The two eggs were collected from goats in the field towards the end of April.
Larvae and flies were identified as P. aegagri, P. silenus and P. crossii according to descriptions given in the literature, but larvae that were identified as one species gave rise to flies that were identified as another species. Larvae with different characteristics were collected on occasions from the same flock at the same time.
It is concluded that the criteria given in the literature for separating the species are inadequate. Provided the description of the eggs of P. crossii is correct, then Grunin's decision to synonymise the three species must be wrong, because the eggs found on goats in Cyprus were distinctly different from the eggs of P. crossii. If synonymy is accepted, then there must be yet another species present in Cyprus.