"294 SUMMARY OF CURRENT RESEARCHES RELATING TO 



Parasite of the Wallaby.* — "W. Wesche" describes under the pro- 

 visional title Hippobosca tasmanica sp. n., one of the Hippoboscidse, 

 parasitic on the Wallaby (Macropus ruficolMs). It is remarkable for two 

 curions spined tubercles — one might almost call them epaulets — on the 

 shoulders, a median suture on the thorax, and a peculiar venation of the 

 wings. Sick wallabies are said to swarm with them. 



Parasitic Bacteria in Intestine of Chironomus LarvBe.f — Louis 

 Leger notes that apart from frequent inclusions, three kinds of Bacteria 

 are true parasites of the intestine of the larvae of Cliironomus plumosus. 

 The three forms which he describes belong to the genera Streptothrix 

 Cohn, Bacillus Cohn, and Spirochete Ehrenb. Leger suggests that the 

 presence of the Spirillum- forms may be the explanation of Vignon's 

 observation — which is somewhat difficult to credit — that the intestine of 

 the Chironomus-\avv?e bears vibratile cilia in certain regions. The 

 undulating bacteria were seen in these very regions of the intestine. 



Antennary Sense-Organs in Lepidoptera and Hymenoptera.J — ■ 

 O.Schenkhas especially studied Fidonia piniaria, Orgyia ant i qua, Psyche 

 unicolor, Ino pruni, Vespa crabro, and Apis mellifica. He finds that the 

 degree of development of the antennae is associated with the develop- 

 ment and distribution of various kinds of sense-organs thereupon. 



In Lepidoptera he distinguishes (a) sensilla cceloconica (olfactory), 

 sensilla styloconica (olfactory), sensilla trichodea (associated with per- 

 ception of movements in the air or of the insect itself), sensilla chaetica, 

 and sensilla basiconica (both sensitive to mechanical stimuli). 



In Hymenoptera he distinguishes sensilla placodea (responsive to 

 mechanical stimuli ?) sensilla cceloconica and styloconica (olfactory), 

 sensilla ampullacea (auditory ?), and sensilla trichodea (responsive to 

 mechanical stimuli). 



Insect against Insect. §— Costantino Eibaga gives an interesting 

 account of the invasion of Iceria purchasi Mask, into Italy, of the 

 subsequent importation of Novius cardinalis Muls., and of the relative 

 success of the ensuing struggle for existence. 



Changes in Imagines induced by Change of Diet in Caterpillars. || 

 — Arnold Pictet finds that if caterpillars of Bombyx quercus, Ocneria 

 dispar, Psilura monacha, &c. are fed on plants which do not form their 

 natural food, noteworthy changes in the coloration of the adults result. 

 In the case of Ocneria dispar notable dwarfing and blanching were 

 effected. 



Dorsal Glands of Larvae of Hemiptera-Heteroptera.1T — J. Guide 

 has dealt very thoroughly with these glands, which secrete a substance 

 with an unpleasant smell, and are doubtless protective. They occur on 

 the abdomen and replace in the larvaa the thoracic glands of the 

 imagines. They are possessed by all Geocorisae except the Hydro- 



* Ami. Nat. Hist., xi. (1903) pp. 384-5 (4 lips.). 



t Coraptea Ren-lus, exxxiv. (1902) pp. 1317-9. 



t Zool. Jahrb., xvii. (1903) pp. 573-618 (2 pis. aud 2 figs.). 



§ Rev. Patol. Vegetale, x. (1903) pp. 299-323. 



|| Arch. Sci. Phys. Nat., xiv. (1902) pp. 537-40. 



■jf 13er. SenukenL.erg. Nat. Ges., 1902, pp. 85-132 t2 pis.). 



