762 EXPERIMENT STATION TiErORD. 



Oriental species of Stomoxys, Sophia L. M. Summers (.4/(/(. and Mag. Nat. 

 JJi.st., H. scr.. 8 ilifJ]}, No. J,.',, pp. 23r,-?JiO. figs. 5).— A table is given for the 

 separation of 10 Oriental species of Stomoxys. One species, Sto)noxys pratti, 

 is described as new to science. 



A fruit fly menace, O. E. Bremnee (Cal. State Coni, Hort. [Circ], 1911, pp. 

 3^7, fig. 1) — This paper calls attention to the danger of introducing the Morelos 

 orange maggot (Trypeta liidcns) from Mexico, and the melon fly (Dacus cu- 

 curbita) and Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata) from the Hawaiian 

 Islands, into California. 



House flies, L. O. Howard (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. J/oD, pp. 16, figs. 

 9). — This account is modified and amplified from Circular 71, previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 17, p. 1094). 



The typhoid fly on the Minnesota Iron Range, F. L. Washburn (Pop. 8ci. 

 Mo.. 79 {1911), No. 2, pp. 137-lo0. figs. 10).— An illustrated address delivered at 

 the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, on December 28, 

 1910. 



The fleas common on rats in different parts of the world and the readiness 

 with which they bite man, Harriette Chick and C. J. Martin {Jour. Hyg. 

 [Cambriflge], {1911), No. 1, pp. 122-136, pi. 1). — " Ceratophyllus fasciatus, like 

 XenopsyUa chcopis, readily bites man. Out of 517 experiments 308 fed, or 59 

 per cent were positive. In 101 experiments, under identical circumstances with 

 a rat, 59, or 58.4 per cent, of the fleas fed. The experiments with C. fasciatus 

 were made upon 8 persons and evidence was obtained of preference on the part 

 of the insects for particular indivduals. One hundred and eleven experiments 

 were made with 46 specimens of Ctenopsylla nmsculi; only 4 fed, or 3.6 per 

 cent, whereas out of 11 fed on a mouse. Sixty-eight specimens of Ctenoph- 

 thalmxis agyrtrs were tried, in some cases upon 3 persons. None fed, whereas 

 11 out of 19 of the same fleas fed on a rat under identical conditions." 



A bibliography of 32 titles is appended. 



Life history of the rice weevil (Calandra oryza) in Alabama, W. E. Hinds 

 and W. F. Turner {Jour. Ecoii. Ent., h {1911), No. 2, pp. 230-236, pi. i).— The 

 authors find that the period of ovipositiou is nearly as long as the life of the 

 female, beginning within a few days of her emei'gence from the grain. The 

 maximum oviposition period observed was 110 days but this female was still 

 active at the time of writing. During this period 417 eggs were deposited. 



Hatching occurs in an average of 3 days from deposition of the egg with a 

 mean temperature between 60 and 65° F. " The first larval stage requires about 

 3 days, the second 4 days, and the third 9 days on the average, with a mean 

 temperature between 60 and 65° F. There is then a distinct prepupal stage in 

 which the forming pupa is plainly visible through the unshed larval skin, last- 

 ing usually for one day. The entire larval stage, therefore, requires between 

 16 and 17 days on the average, with a common range between 15 and 19 days 

 under usual temperature conditons." There seems to be considerable variation 

 in the length of the pupal stage at the same period, with the average at about 

 6 days and the range between 3 and 9 days. 



The breeding of weevils continues more or less steadily throughout the 

 winter provided the temperature remains sufficiently high, " At an average 

 temperature of about 63°, development from oviposition to the emergence of 

 the adult may take place in about 32 days. The general average, however, is 

 rather longer than this, and for the first field generation appears to be about 

 6 weeks and for the second field generation between 7 and 8 weeks. This is 

 between about the first week of August and the last of October." 



