PEOC. ENT. SOC. WASH., VOL. 20, NO. 8, NOV. 1918 183 



T. americanus at once sought new feeding grounds either for shade 

 or security. The exposure of the blooms did not have the same 

 effect on either sex of T. trijunctus. 



There is a considerable difference in the date of the blooming 

 of the saw palmetto in the southern and northern parts of Florida 

 but in any .given locality the plant remains in blossom over a 

 long period. Therefore, it would seem that in their control, ad- 

 vantage might be taken of the habit of these species of Tabanidae 

 of congregating on the bloom and of feeding on the nectar of saw 

 palmetto and other plants. The Russian entomologist I. A. 

 Porchinski in 1908 recommended spraying the surface of ponds, 

 where Tabanids drink, with kerosene oil in order to clog the air 

 passages of the flies or to prevent them from rising from the 

 surface. It has occurred to the junior author that it might be 

 practicable to spray with an arsenical solution to poison the 

 adults the bloom of plants, the nectar of which Tabanids drink. 

 Of course, in regions where honey bees are abundant, there would 

 be the danger of poisoning the bees. The blossoms should be 

 sprayed before sunrise. 



Artificial drainage of the Everglades may be the solution of the 

 gadfly problem, but until this is done, these annoying and dan- 

 gerous insects will continue to be detrimental to the welfare of 

 live stock. 



The senior author has made additional captures of Tabanidae 

 at Paradise Key. A black species Tabanus lugubris Macq., T. 

 rufus Palisot de Beauvais and T. costalis Wied. are new records 

 for this locality. 



On June 11 one female of Tabanus am.ericanus was caught; two 

 more were captured on June 13. T$y the middle of June adults of 

 Tabanus lineola were diminishing in numbers on the screens of 

 the Lodge building but were plentiful on the prairies. Of Taba- 

 nus flavus, only a few adults were nightly observed. 



During July, adults of the black gadfly (Tabanus higubris) were 

 observed occasionally but this species was not plentiful. Tabanus 

 melanocerus was diminishing in numbers. Females of the large 

 reddish brown Tabannx rufus were collected on July 28. 



During August, adults of Tabanus costalis a small species sim- 

 ilar to T. lineola were collected. 



Adults of the "yellow fly of the Dismal Swamp" (Diachlorus 

 ferrugatus) were captured during June and August). 



An effort was made ly the senior author to preserve the beau-' 

 tiful natural pigment of the eyes of the living flics. Specimens of 

 several species of Tabanus caught in -June were put in a 10 per cent 

 formalin, 10 per cent grain alcohol solution. As long MS the Hi"-; 

 remained in the solution there was no change noted, but as soon 

 as they were removed and drying took place the colors changed. 



