BITING AND NOXIOUS INSECTS OTHEE THAN MOSQUITOES 



33 



A new species of the vicious and mottled-winged Hirmatopota was brought from the H^matopota 

 Bahr-El-Ghazal by Major Bray, while a different variety has been forwarded from the 

 Eahad. This leads us to speak of flies from the Blue Nile. These have been sent by the 

 Mamurs of Rufaa and Eoseires through Mr. Corbyn. 



The most interesting are the Panijoiiin, species P. mofircttu, Fig. 12, from Rufaa, called in pangonia flie.<; 

 Arabic, Ter-El-Ba(,ger (" the cow-bird ") or DMan-EI-G^far (" fly of the desert "). These 

 flies, in wliich the proboscis is of great length, are said to be a cause of camel sickness and 

 the reason for the migrations of camel-breeding Arabs. Seroots were also sent from Eufaa 

 together with a note that they were worse during the Kharif, and bite all animals, including 

 man. A quaint sentence may be quoted, as it is very typical of the drawbacks to work in 

 the Sudan : 



'■ I regret I could not get them alive, because the way of catching is by beating them 

 with a cloth or with a bundle of sticks." No wonder it is, at times, difficult to identify 

 specimens ! Yet one would rather have the 

 interest displayed by tliis forcible collector than 

 the indifference which is sometimes sho\vn. 



The notes from Eoseii-es are somewhat con- 

 fused, several species being sent together under 

 the same heading. The Blue Nile Ha'matopot<i 

 seem to be called El Tdkaxhd (" the attacking 

 fly"), and are credited vdth. causing "swelling of 

 the lungs" in sheep and goats. They are said to 

 appear in August, prevail a short time during the 

 Kharif, and then die. A/m Bahuld (" father of 

 a stringed musical instrument") is the name 

 after Auot o n , applied without distinction to the 

 larger Tabanidae, while Sartieh seems also to be 

 an Arabic term for Seroots.* 



Stontoxys were sent from Eoseires, where they are called El Naghuza. The note, which 

 is quite correct, states : " This fly chiefly bites donkeys, horses and mules. It bites in the 

 legs, causing pimples which do not cause death. It appears in August." 



General remarks on all the flies sent follow, wliich, as they show that interest is being 

 taken, and exhibit certain peculiarities in translation, are perhaps worth recording : 



1. The above-mentioned flies generally live during the Kharif, but they much prevail 

 in July and August. They are confined to the woods and places where grass grows. 



2. The natives are bited (sic) by all the different lands of this fly, but are not injured 

 The bite does nothing more than bursting blood from the spot only. 



3. These flies bite by day only. 



4. They bite the fierce animals to death. 



5. No person appears to know anything about their breeding habits. 



On the whole this information is far from being incorrect, and shows that considerable 

 trouble has been taken to answer the questions as fully as possible. 



In the First Report I stated that sand flies and owl midges were common in Khartoum. 

 Further experience has shown that the former, the true Sinudulae, are rarely, if ever, phiebotomus 

 encountered. Small hairy flies of the family Psychodidae, genus Phlehotonms (Figs. 13 and 14), 0«i midges 

 • The word Um-Ta-dna (" mother of sting ") is also used for certain biting flies. 



Fig. 12. — Pango.vi.'^ M.\gretti, Bezzi ? (x 2) 



After Austen 



Egyptian Sudan, Somaliland, E. .\frica Protectorate 



Head yellowish ; thorax yellowish brown ; basal portion of 



abdomen ochraceous ; bands on black apical portion whitish 



yellow; femora brown, remaining portion of legs yellow; wings 



suffused with light yellowish brown. 



By kind permission of Trttstees o/ British Mitsetim. 



