T^he Ohio ^JSicituralist, 



PUBLISHED BY 



The Biological Club of the Ohio State Uni'versity. 



Volume VII. DECEMBER, 1906. No. 2. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 



HiNE— The North American Species of Tabanu'^ with a Uniform Middorsal Stripe 19 



Hive— Two Species of Diptera Belonging to Asilinae 29 



ScHAFFNER— A Successful Mutant of Verbena Without External Isolation 31 



DUERANT— Descriptions of New Mallophaga, II 35 



OSBOKK— Note on Habits of Senotaiuia rubriventris Macq 38 



SCHAFFNER— Nodding of the Terminal Heads of Silphinm laciuiatum 39 



Metcalf— Meeting of the Biological Club 40 



THE NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF TABANUS WITH A 

 UNIFORM MIDDORSAL STRIPE. 



James S. Hine. 



There are a number of species of the genus Tab anus in the 

 Americas characterized by having a regular gray or yellow 

 middorsal stripe continued for the length of the abdomen. Most 

 of them have the anterior leg black with the exception of the 

 base of the tibia which is gray or yellowish; but there are a few 

 variations which will be m.entioned later. Such species resemble 

 more or less the very abundant and troublesome costalis and 

 lineola, which are commonly called green-head flies, and which 

 are important stock pests, having been associated in recent years 

 with the transmission of certain infectious diseases of domesti- 

 cated animals. 



There are a score or more of species of this type in North 

 America and several more in South America, but they do not 

 appear to be so numerous in the Eastern Hemisphere. Green- 

 head flies is a common English name for all. Some have a wide 

 range, being reported from northern North America to Brazil 

 and from the Atlantic almost to the Pacific, while others, so far 

 as known, are restricted to much more limited areas. 



Wherever I have observed they are the most abundant of 

 their family in season, and are exceptionally persistent in their 

 attacks. They are never particularly conspicuous, nor do they 

 make much noise when flying around an animal, but appear to 

 come from all directions and at once alight on the limbs or under 

 parts, and begin biting before their selected victim is scarcely 

 aware of their presence. 



Wooded areas appear to have particular attractions for 

 them. In southern United States and Central America a 



