1. Only large game movements produce noticeable effects upon the fly community.

2. The fauna of the hills is not subjected to game concentration.

3. The country included in the N.E. Kikori round is not subjected to large game movements, as is the S.E. round.

4. A concentration of game appears to cause a considerable increase in fly density the surrounding country; when the game have dispersed the density drops.

5. In the small area of country forming the core of the concentration fly appear to be very scarce while the game are present. When the game have left the density greatly increases.

6. The arrival of much game in an area causes an increase in the activity of the females.

The distribution and bionomics of the species of Phlebotomus in N.W. Persia are described.

The distribution of Leishmania in this area and the possible relations of sandflies to it are discussed.

Observations on the quite distinct and well-defined hours of activity of the different species are recorded.

P. chinensis is recorded from Persia for the first time.

The diagnosis of the female of P. caucasicus is established.

P. wenyoni, sp. n., P. kandelaki, Schour., and P. perniciosus var. tobbi, var. n., are described.

A simple method of breeding sandflies while travelling is described.

P. perniciosus var. tobbi was infected by feeding on cultures of L. donovani of Mediterranean origin.

P. caucasicus was infected by feeding on cultures of L. tropica.

In 1925 (Bull. Ent. Res., xv, p. 289) I described a species of Metadrepana (M. andersoni, Tams) the larvae of which were found defoliating coffee in Kenya Colony in 1922. Figures were given of the male genitalia of three species. The species described below has for some years been known by the name Metadrepana glauca, Hampson, but a year or two ago I discovered, on examining some specimens sent to the Imperial Bureau of Entomology by Mr. H. Hargreaves, that these were not M. glauca, but a new species. Mr. G. L. R. Hancock has recently sent a good series of this new species, which is a very variable one, and I am now able to describe it.

It has been my privilege through the courtesy of the Imperial Institute of Entomology to examine specimens of a midge which was found predacious on Liothrips urichi, Karny, in Trinidad by Mr. H. W. Simmonds, and originally discovered by Mr. F. W. Urich.

Palpus upcurved, the 2nd segment broadly and smoothly scaled in front, its distal extremity reaching the level of the vertex of the head, the 3rd segment long and acuminate (blunter in the male than in the female). Frons rounded, smoothly scaled. Tibiae with outer spurs half as long as inner. Fore wing with veins R3+R4 anastomosed for three-fourths of their length, R2 closely approximated to them, R5 almost straight and diverging from them; veins M2, M3, and Cu1 arising close together from lower angle of cell, vein Cu2 from cell at about five-sixths. Hind wing with vein Sc anastomosing with vein Rs to near apex; veins M2, M3, Cu1, and Cu2 disposed as in fore wing.

It is only in recent years that the presence and extent of sleeping sickness amongst the pagan tribes on the Bauchi Plateau have been recognised. This is partly owing to the fact that endemic sleeping sickness of a very mild type with a low mortality has prevailed hitherto. The epidemic disease with a high mortality seems to be of recent origin and is probably due to the improved communications and unrestrained movement between different tribes and races throughout the Province, resulting in the introduction of new and virulent strains of Trypanosoma gambiense. The large labour camps at the tin mines are doubtless responsible for a good deal of this movement of population. Tsetse on the Plateau is usually scanty, as suitably heavy shade and an adequate food supply are comparatively rare. Wherever conditions permit, however, Glossina palpalis is present. The following report is based on a visit made by the author during November and December, 1929, to Ganawuri, where the most severe epidemic of sleeping sickness yet recorded on the Plateau was in progress. The objects of the visit were primarily an investigation into the bionomics of G. palpalis in this locality, and the determination of the part played by it in the transmission of the disease.

The following remarks are based chiefly on the revision of the East Indian species of the subgenus Mansonioides just published by J. Bonne-Wepster (Geneesk. Tijd. Ned.-Ind., Deel 70, pp. 940–966, Sept. 1930). A re-examination of the British Museum collection in the light of Mrs. Bonne's work has shown that certain points need elaboration or correction.

1. The chief pests of cocoa and chocolate are the Pyralid moths, Ephestia elutella (cocoa moth), E. kühniella (Mediterranean flour moth), E. cautella (fig moth), and Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth).

2. Beans are infested before arrival at the factory, this infestation commencing on the plantation and increasing during the various stages of transit to the factory. The docks, in particular, may be the most important source of infestation owing to the fact that there fresh consignments may be brought into direct contact with much older consignments already heavily infested.

3. The steps recommended for factory use are:—

(a) General cleanliness in all parts of the factory, avoidance of dead spaces which offer opportunities for breeding and pupation, removal of all waste material, constant sweeping, frequent whitewashing and distempering, etc.

(b) Heat treatment of beans on arrival at the factory and subsequent storage where they will not be liable to re-infestation. The heat treatment to consist of subjection to a temperature of 60° C.–65° C. for a time dependent on quantity of beans.

(c) The use of traps in the factory in order to keep down the numbers of stray moths. Such traps may consist of vinegar and syrup.

(d) The protection of all finished goods by means of fine-mesh materials so far as possible.

4. No insect life survives either roasting or any stage of manufacture in which the chocolate is in a molten condition.

5. Although parasites exist which prey on the larvae of these moths, it is not considered that extermination by means of them would be practicable.

6. Fumigation of warehouses, especially at the docks, is under consideration by the Empire Marketing Board, and any recommendation they may make will probably be applicable to factories. At the present stage, however, it is premature to make suggestions.

It is being recognized that for a satisfactory solution of many of the wider problems of Applied Entomology, a study of insect ecology is of paramount importance. It is expected that a knowledge of the factors which influence distribution and abundance of insects will arm economic entomologists better in their warfare against pests. Just recently, Lathrop (1923), Shelford (1927), Buxton (1929), Uvarov (1929), Gryse (1929), and others have shown the importance of meteorological phenomena affecting the development, distribution, and activities of insects. Although our knowledge of the two factors so far studied—temperature and humidity—is far from being complete, still the results so far obtained have proved to be of considerable value. Indeed, instances of the practical application of such knowledge are already available. From his studies on the effects of temperature on household insects, Howard (1896) has shown that cold storage provides an effective control of these pests. Pierce (1916) has correlated the relative advance and retreat of the fall army-worm, Laphygma frugiperda, S. & A., with changes in temperature. He maintains that a proper fixation of the zone of effective temperatures may make it possible to alter the sowing time of winter crops to avoid damage from this insect. Barber (1925) explains the decrease of the European corn-borer, Pyrausta nubilalis, Hübn., during certain years on the basis of adverse environmental conditions. A. Howard (1921), from his observations in India, states that there exists a definite relationship between termite activity and soil temperature.

1. Carabunia myersi is an extraordinarily efficient internal parasite of the nymphs of Clastoptera undulata and Clastoptera sp. in Cuba, and of a third species in the mountains of Haiti.

2. The rate of parasitism is from 65 to nearly 100 per cent.

3. The egg is laid in nymphs of about the second instar, the female wasp negotiating the covering spittle-mass with great ease.

4. There are three larval stadia, and pupation takes place within the indurated larval skin of the last larval instar, inside the abdomen of the still active host.

5. The spiracles of this Hymenopterous puparium achieve connections with certain of the abdominal tracheae of the host and by this means supply air to the pupa.

6. Dissection and experiment showed that Carabunia is not actually, nor is it likely to become, a parasite of froghoppers of the genus Tomaspis (Monecphora) to which the Trinidad cane pest belongs.

I desire especially to thank my wife for assistance in every part of the investigation.

From many parts of the world, but especially from South Asia and Africa, the Imperial Institute of Entomology receives an increasing number of Chalcidoidea, many being important as parasites of noxious insects, but mostly still very little known or even undescribed. The study of all these varied and often difficult species will be the work of many students on parasitic Hymenoptera. For our part we intend to publish a series of notes under the above title, alternatively with notes on African Chalcidoidea, as contributions to a knowledge of the most important or interesting species, the large majority of which have been bred.

Blue-black, the basal joints of the antennae, coxae and base of the tibiae tinged with fulvous, the head greenish black, the prothorax and the elytra more metallic blue, finely punctured. Length, 4 mm.

(1) Frankliniella insularis (Franklin) is found on various food-plants, including tomatos, in the Adelaide area.

(2) The life-history and bionomics of the species have been investigated, particularly on tomato plants under glasshouse conditions. The various stages of the insect have been described.

(3) The eggs are laid in the tissues of the tomato leaf, and the larvae feed on the leaves or in the flowers; when mature they leave the plants and pupate in the débris on the surface of the soil or penetrate into the upper layers of the soil. Sometimes they pupate on the plant in rolled leaves, depressions in the stem or other similar situations; this habit has been also observed on tomato plants growing in the open during the summer. In carnation flowers eggs were laid in the tissues of the sepals and petals.

(4) The duration of the egg stage for 64 examples varied from 9–14 days when the mean daily temperature was 64·5° F. In a number of other observations it was found to vary from 3 days, when the mean temperature was 100° F., to 15 days, when the mean temperature was 63·1°F. The rate of oviposition is markedly affected by temperature: with a mean temperature of 77·5° F., one female laid an average of 3·9 eggs daily; two other females laid an average of 1·2 and 1·7 eggs daily when the mean temperature was 68·2°F.; and another female laid an average of 1·3 eggs when the mean temperature was 67·7° F. Below 60° F. the rate of oviposition is greatly retarded, but egg-laying may extend over a long period: one female continued oviposition over a period of 157 days. The largest number of eggs laid by a single female was 92 over a period of 70 days.

(5) The duration of the larval stages for 32 individuals varied from 9 to 13 days when the mean temperature of the periods varied from 66·6° F. to 65·7° F. In a number of observations on other individuals at various times the period varied from 7 to 14 days when the mean temperature varied from 74·9° F. to 63·4° F.

(6) The duration of the pupal stages obtained from 19 individuals varied from 7 to 14 days when the mean temperature of the periods varied from 72·8° F. to 66·7° F.

(7) The complete life-cycle under glasshouse conditions occupied 36–39 days when the mean temperature of the period was about 66° F. Observations made on a number of individuals at various periods gave a variation in the period of the complete life-cycle from 13 to 41 days with mean temperatures varying from 89·5° F. to 64·1° F.

(8) The chief distribution of Frankliniella insularis appears to be the region of Central America. It is common in the Adelaide area during the warmer period of the year (approximately November to April), and rare or absent during the remaining months. Its seasonal occurrence appears to be due to temperature, since it was readily reared at all periods of the year on tomato plants in the glasshouse.

(9) The economic importance of the species is due to the fact that G. Samuel and J. G. Bald have shown experimentally that it can transmit the virus of spotted wilt disease of tomatos.