145 



Re.my (P.). De I'Action des Vapeurs de Chloropicrine sur VArgas 



reflexus, F. — C. K. Hcbdom. Acad. Sci., Paris, clxxii, pt. 25, 

 20th June 1921, pp. 1619-1621. 



All individuals of Argas reflexus exposed to chloropicrin gas at the 

 rate of 20g. to 30g. per cubic metre for a day, were killed. This should 

 be repeated at the end of a month to destroy newly emerged individuals. 



ViLLEXEUVE (J.). Sur Ochrops [Atylotus) fiilvus, Meig. — Ann. Soc. 

 Ent. Belg., Brussels, Ix, 1920, "pp. 65-66. [Received 5th July 

 1921.] 



The genus Ochrops, Szilady, includes closely allied species. One of 

 these, Ochrops fulvus, Meig., may be divided into two easily differen- 

 tiated forms. Loew placed 0. fulvus, Meig., in the group of Tabanns, 

 with " eyes thickly covered with hair." This is the second form, 

 for which the name 0. loeicianus, sp. n. {fulvus apud Loew, Schiner, 

 Brauer) is suggested here. Other differences between it and 0. fulvus, 

 Meig., are mentioned. The latter appears to be more a northern 

 species, and 0. loewianus more a southern one. 



Pattox (\\. S.). Some Notes on the Arthropods of Medical and 

 Veterinary Importance in Mesopotamia, and on their Relation to 

 Disease. Part iv. Some Mesopotamian Nematocera of Economic 

 Importance. Fart v. Some Miscellaneous Arthropods. — Ind. Jl. 

 Med. Res., Calcutta, viii, no. 2, October 1920, pp. 245-256, 

 1 plate. [Received 6th July 1921.] 



Swarms of Ceratopogoninae (biting midges) appear in the early 

 spring when the Euphrates rises in flood and converts the adjacent land 

 into vast, shallow marshes. Culicoides mesopotamiensis , sp. n., was 

 extremely abundant along the river banks and creeks during the summer 

 months. It is troublesome to animals, biting horses, mules and cattle. 

 The larvae were numerous in algal matter in pools, streams and creeks. 

 Leptoconops (Tersesthes) mesopotamiensis, sp. n., was present in large 

 numbers during the heat of the day in May, but though it entered the 

 tents and crawled over the occupants, it was not considered to be a 

 blood-sucker. It is possible that it feeds chiefly on animals, and may 

 perhaps in time become a pest of man. The opinions of other authors 

 regarding the possibility of Ctdicoides being a transmitting agent of 

 oriental sore and horse-sickness are discussed. Phlebotomus papatasii. 

 Scop., and P. minutus, Rond., are both found ; the former is the commoner 

 of the two and is one of the most serious insect pests in Mesopotamia. 

 It is extremely abundant, appearing in early March, almost disappearing 

 during the hottest months, and reappearing in large numbers from 

 August to November, when it disappears entirely. P. minutus appears 

 a little later in the spring, and is again seen in August and September. 

 Hibernation probably takes place in the larval stage. Both species 

 occur in places where there is no human host, and evidently feed upon 

 some small mammal or reptile, such as desert rats and lizards. The 

 breeding grounds of both species are evidently very wide, breeding 

 occurring in cracks and crevices in the ground in almost any locahty. 

 Both species transmit the unknown parasite of sand-fly fever, which 

 is very prevalent in IMesopotamia. The author has recently propounded 

 a new theory regarding the spread of the parasite of oriental sore 

 in Mesopotamia [R.A.E., B, vih, 15]. He does not beheve that an 

 intermediate host, such as the gecko, is necessary as a reservoir for the 



