358 StJMMAB"X OF CURBENT bbsbahches relating to 



breeding experiments, it is to be concluded that two types of spermatozoa 

 are not correlated with different heritable characters, and probably those 

 of the second type are not functional in fertilization." 



Carnivorous Mosquito Larvae.*— C. A. Paiva gives some notes on 

 the larvae of Toxorhyneites immisericors Wlk., which are abundant abont 

 Calcutta, and were found frequently in earthen pots. These larvae are 

 carnivorous and, as the experiments here reported have shown, exceed- 

 ingly voracious. In a vessel with Stegomyia larvae, T. immisericors was 

 observed to lie quietly in a vertical positon until one of the actively 

 swimming Stegomyia larvae came within reach, when, with a sharp side- 

 ward jerky movement of the head, it seized its prey. Sometimes it only 

 sucks its victim and rejects the skin, which is then greedily devoured 

 by other Stegomyia larva?, but more frequently the whole larva is 

 eaten. In the course of one night over one hundred Stegomyia larvae 

 were eaten up by three larvae of T. immisericors. These carnivorous 

 larvae will eat any mosquito larvae without discrimination, except that 

 apparently they do not begin to eat one another until other supplies are 

 running short. 



S.fasciata, the yellow T fever mosquito, is common in earthen vessels 

 about Calcutta ; and the observer considers that the part played by 

 T. immisericors in its destruction might be of great moment in the 

 event of yellow fever being introduced into the country. 



Apple Red Bugs.j — C. R. Crosby gives an account of two species of 

 Heiniptera, Heterocordylus malinus and Lygida mendax, which have done 

 much injury since 1908 among the apple-trees of New York State. Their 

 presence is indicated by minute red spots on the leaf, caused by their 

 feeding punctures. The two species are very similar in habit. The eggs 

 of H. malinus are inserted in a slit at the base of the fruit spurs, and 

 they hatch soon after the fruit buds begin to unfold. The larvae pass 

 through five stages, and attain wings at the fifth moult. A technical 

 description of all the stages of both species is given. The larvae feed at 

 first on the foliage, but attack the young fruit as soon as it is set. The 

 plant-tissue round each puncture hardens and becomes discoloured, and 

 many of the apples fall to the ground or wither on the tree, while many 

 more are so deformed as to be unmarketable. Experiments to control 

 the pest are still being tried. 



Both bugs appear to be native to America, and probably fed origin- 

 ally on wild thorn. A closely related species, H. flavipes Matsuma, is 

 related from Japan. 



Secretion of Ghost Bug.| — Uavid Hooper discusses the white sugary 

 secretion of Phromnia marginella. It is said to be secreted in a liquid 

 state by the larvae ; it drops on to the leaves and hardens ; it probably 

 comes from large gland-like organs on each side at the end of the 

 abdomen. The manna-like or wax-like material, found as an encrusta- 

 tion on the leaves, consists in part of dulcitol (dulcite), an isomeride of 



* Records Indian Museum, v. (1910) pp. 187-90. 

 t Bull. Cornell Univ. No. 291 (1911) pp. 213-25. 

 X Journ. and Proc. Asiatic Society Bengal, v. (1910) pp. 363-6. 



