ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



PHILADELPHIA, PA., JULY, 1915. 



A Contrast and a Hope. 



The Summer of 1915. Instead of an International Congress 

 of Entomology, repeating the social intercourse, the making 

 of new friendships, the reaching of hands across the sea, of 

 Brussels and of Oxford, an International War with Ento- 

 mologists serving in the opposing lines. Then, the increased 

 forbearance, sympathy and understanding that comes from 

 personal acquaintance ; now, the intensifying of those racial 

 and national prejudices which influence even those who strive 

 against them and who know their baleful effects. Only in the 

 far West of America will there be, this Summer, a shining 

 ray of hope in the assembling of those who cultivate insect 

 lore. The additional meeting of the Entomological Society of 

 America (the announcement of which is made on another 

 page of this number of the NEWS), instead of competing with 

 the Congress planned for Vienna, will be the only general 

 gathering where entomologists of all nations may meet under 

 a neutral flag in the peace of science. To California comes 

 the opportunity of raising the torch of knowledge far above 

 and away from the din and smoke of strife. May the whole 

 earth know again some of that peace which it enjoyed before 

 these terrible present days ! 



We learn, through the Entomologists' Record, that Dr. Walther 

 Horn, the eminent CTerman Coleopterist, is at the front somewhere as 

 a Regimental Doctor. 



Blood Worms and Water Pollution (Dip.). 



The presence of "blood-worms" [of which the most common species 

 in the United States are the larvae of Chironomus decorns, viridicollis 

 and lobiferus~\ in any body of water is not an indication that such 

 water is polluted, although they may be, and often are, found in 

 water that is contaminated with sewage. There are, however, but few 

 species to be found in badly polluted water, most species being confined 

 to unpolluted water or to that which is but slightly tainted. Even 

 blood-red larvae are not in all cases found in polluted water, as the two 

 largest species in the Illinois are confined to the parts of the river 

 which are comparatively clean. J. R. MALLOCH, Bull. 111. St. Lab. Nat. 

 Hist., x, p. 534, 1915. 



326 



