756 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECOED. 



Phalera bucephala and its importance for the artificial breeding of Pen- 

 tarthron (Oophthora) semblidis in winter, I. A. Pgrtchinsky {Trudy Bmro 

 Ent. [St. Petersl).], 10 (1913), No. 4, pp. 16, figs. 8; ahs. in Rev. Appl. Ent., 

 1 {1913), Ser. A, No. 9, pp. 311, 318). — The author suggests that pupae of insects 

 hibernating in the pupal stage, such as P. 'bucephala, a moth widely distributed 

 in Russia, or as P. bucepJialoides, may be used in rearing the chalcidid parasite 

 Pentarthron semhlidis during the winter for use in combating Euxoa (Agrotis) 

 segcium. 



The vine-flower g-all midge (Contarinia viticola) {Luxemh. Weinztg., 1 

 {1913), No. 21, pp. 357, 358; ahs. tn Rev. Appl. Ent., 1 {1918), Ser. A, No. 9, 

 p. 331). — This gall midge is said to have occurred in large numbers in vine- 

 yards at Schwebsingen (Luxemburg), the damage in 1913 being estimated at 

 one-tenth of the crop. 



On certain hematophagous species of the genus Musca, with descriptions 

 of two new species, W. S. Patton and F. W. Cragg {Indian Jour. Med. Re- 

 search, 1 {1913), No. 1, pp. 11-25, pis. 5; ahs. in Rev. Appl. Ent., 1 {1913), Ser. B, 

 No. 11, pp. 209, 210). — It is pointed out that in the genus Musca, in which the 

 proboscis is of the type from which the muscid biting flies have evolved, there 

 are certain flies that habitually feed on blood. Though they are confirmed 

 bloodsuckers and have no other food, the proboscis is not adapted for piercing 

 and presents no notable deviations from the type of the genus. " Totally unable 

 to penetrate the skin of the host themselves, they rely on other and better 

 equipped flies to do it for them and feed on the blood and serum which exudes 

 from their bites. For this purpose they associate themselves with the biting 

 muscids, such as Stomoxys, Bdellolarynx, Philsematomyia, and Lyperosia, and 

 with the Tabanidse." 



The practical importance of this group lies in their probable capacity to trans- 

 mit disease from one animal to another. Four species studied by the authors 

 in South India, all of which resemble the common house fly superficially, are 

 described, two being new to science. 



The migratory habit of house fly larvae as indicating a favorable remedial 

 measure. — An account of progress, R. H. Hutchison {U. 8. Dept. Agr. Bui. 14 

 {1914), pp. 11). — "Observations and experiments show that the migratory 

 habit is deeply ingrained and highly characteristic of house fly larvae. The 

 migratory habit appears in the prepupal stage in response to various internal 

 and external stimuli. Of the external stimuli, moisture is perhaps the most im- 

 portant in determining the direction of their travels and the choice of a place 

 for pupation. The migratory habit is an adaptation of great advantage in that 

 it insures to the issuing adult the easiest and quickest escape. The deep-seated 

 habit offers an important point of attack in the attempt to control the pest. 



" Experiments with maggot traps show that 98 or 99 per cent of the total 

 number of larvae can be made to leave the manure, provided it is kept moist. 

 Even from comparatively dry manure as many as 70 per cent can be destroyed. 

 The development of the maggot trap into an efficient weapon in the warfare 

 against the house fly involves the working out of certain practical points, 

 namely, the size and structure of the trap, the time necessary to keep the 

 manure in the trap to rid it of maggots, the disposal of the larvae, etc." 



A list of 9 references to the literature is appended. 



Further reports on flies as carriers of infection {Rpts. Local Govt. Bd. 

 [Gt. Brit.-], Puh. Health and Med. Suhjs., n. ser., Nos. 66 {1912), pp. 22, pis. 2; 

 85 {1913), pp. 46, pi. 1, figs. 13). — Three papers are presented in the fifth of 

 these reports (E. S. R., 30, p. 658), namely, Observations on the Range of Flight 

 of Flies, by C. G. Hewitt (pp. 1-5) ; British Flies which Cause Myiasis in Man, 

 by E. E. Austen (pp. 5-15) ; and An Account of the Bionomics and the Larvae 



