158 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



mules. Ornithodoros moubata transmits both human spiro- 

 chsetosis and filariasis. Experiments were made looking 

 towards its extinction. A fungus (allied to Entomophthora), 

 which kills it, and a bug, Phonergates bicoloripes, which preys 

 on it, were discovered but could not be employed practically. 

 Changing men from beds to hammocks with cotton wool sur- 

 rounding the suspending ropes was successful in a large 

 measure as a protective device. 



Myriapods. Venomous species (Scolopendra morsitans and 

 lata) were mentioned, also several species of Cormocephalus. 

 Two genera of large julids (Spirostreptus and Odontopyge) 

 were discussed at some length. a A curious fact hitherto un- 

 noted is that at the end of the dry season when the struggle 

 for existence is very fierce these millipedes excrete an excess 

 of irritating material from the foramina repugnatoria, which 

 runs down on the legs, making them poisonous, so that the 

 track of one, if it crawl over the human skin, leaves a weal 

 like that made by a red-hot iron. 



Insects. Thysanura were first taken up. On one occasion 

 only, at the end of the rainy season, vast numbers of a small 

 blue-black podurid were seen almost completely covering the 

 surface of small ponds. Campodeidse (which run backward 

 and forward with equal facility) frequent bungalows and are 

 used by children as playthings. Some of the species of Lepis- 

 matidse are very large, and some are predaceous, having been 

 observed to prey on beetle larvae and also on the imagines of 

 the common wood-borer Bostrichopsis cephalotes, entering the 

 burrows of these latter and invading the beetle, leaving the 

 eviscerated exoskeleton to fall to the ground. Among dragon 

 flies Crocotheniis sanguinolenta, Orthctrum chrysostigma, and 

 O. caff rum were pointed out as striking and beautiful insects. 

 The latter species was once seen carrying about a small snail. 

 Termites have many types of habit. Some serve like earth- 

 worms in loosening the soil. One species has soldiers which 



a During the discussion which followed, Doctor Wellman, in answer 

 to questions, entered more fully into the distribution, copulation, early 

 stages, means of defence from enemies, and other habits of these 

 millipedes. 



