

65 ^-^Xx-.-^.^wV; 



A CONTRIBUTION TO THE ENTOMOLOGY OF THE Rfe-"^ )^ 

 GION OF THE GULF BIOLOGIC STATION 



JAMES S. HINE. 



This short paper is the resuU of some secondary work at collect- 

 ing insects during a stay of two v/eeks at the Gulf Biologic Station 

 in August 1903. Although many of the species mentioned are 

 common the list given below will serve to give some idea of the 

 insect fauna of the region at that season. All species mentioned 

 are represented by one or more specimens actually collected and a 

 number not yet determined are excluded from the list. 



To the Division of Entomology at Washington under whose di- 

 rection I took the trip, and to those in charge of the Gulf Biologic 

 Station who granted me many privileges I wish to express my 

 appreciation. I am also indebted to Professor Herbert Osborn of 

 the Ohio State University for determining all the Hemiptera, and 

 to Messrs Ashmead and Coquillett of the U. S. National Museum, 

 and Mr. Charles Dury of Cincinnati for determining the Hymen- 

 optera, Diptera and Coleoptera preceeded by an asterisk (*). 



Since the primary object of my trip was the study of stock pests, 

 the forms most attractive to me were mosquitoes, horseflies of the 

 family Tabanidae, dragonflies, and a few. species of predaceous 

 Hymenoptera and Diptera. 



Mosquitoes are abundant and consequently annoying to both 

 man and beast. The salt-marsh species especially is furnished 

 with ideal breeding grounds, and as its bites are very severe it is 

 a pest of paramount importance. The question of its control fur- 

 nishes an important insect problem which the director of the sta- 

 tion has taken up with enthusiasm and if he reaches a successful 

 solution the people of the locality will be greatly indebted to him. 



The large dragonfly, Anax juiiius, is exceedingly abundant and 

 swarms of the species appear in the evening and busy themselves 

 at feeding on small insects. Although there is no way of knowing 

 just how much good these predaceous insects do, it is certain that 

 they should be considered in connection with the mosquito prob- 

 lem of the locality. 



Not many species of horseflies were observed, but three species 

 were abundant. The country furnishes abundant breeding grounds 

 for these three species and for that reason the problem of their 

 control is an immense one. Although the successful control of 

 these flies has always been accompanied with dififi.culties I am of 



