213 



The German spocios may ho divided into two f^roujis, tlioufth this 

 is not entirely satisfactory. luxlerlcin's proposal to rei:)lace the genus 

 Sinutlimn by two subfamilies and no less than lifteen genera [R. A.E., 

 B, ix, 104] is not likely to be generally accepted. 



The distribution of Simuliids in parts of Hanover, Mecklenl)urg, 

 Hamburg and the Harz Mountains is recorded in detail. Waters in 

 which Simuliids breed usually contain several species together. 

 There is scarcely a stream too small for some species, while broad 

 rivers may be infested if they are shallow and contain vegetation. 

 Entirely shaded streams or parts of streams are avoided, but for some 

 species quite a slight current suffices. In general, certain species are 

 connected with streams of a certain size and character. The smaller 

 German species (5. argyreatum and S. reptans) seem chiefly to inhabit 

 rivers, while the largest species (5. ornatum) is usually found in small 

 streams. 



In Germany tlie flight-period of Simuliids extends from April to 

 October. The date at which the pupae, occur is given for thirteen 

 species, and as the pupal period is short, this also indicates the 

 occurrence of the adults. 



In north-eastern Mecklenburg the species most common there, 

 5. ornatum, S. ornatum pratorum, subsp. n., and S. aitremn, do not suck 

 blood of warm-blooded animals, and perhaps suck no blood at all. 

 On one occasion, however, a female of 5. ornatum nitidifrons, Edw., 

 was observed to take blood. 



5. monticola is recorded as biting horses in the Harz. Noller recorded 

 that .S. nolleri bites cattle, but the specimens collected from cattle 

 by him do not belong to this species. S. reptans has long been known 

 as a pest. S. argyreatum is the most dangerous species in Hanover. 

 5. maculatiim probably plays some part in outbreaks, but the absence 

 of fatal cases in cattle in districts where it predominates points to its 

 being less dangerous than S. argyreatum. It has been noticed biting 

 horses. Man is only occasionally attacked in Germany, 5. ornatum 

 nitidifrons being one of the species concerned. 



Bresslau (E.). Ueber ein angebliches Fliegenbekampfungsmittel. 



[An alleged ettective Fly-destroying Preparation.] — Zcitschr. 

 angew. Ent., Berlin, viii, no. 1, September 1921, pp. 176-178. 



Referring to the memorandum submitted to the German Imperial 

 Chancellor requesting the prohibition of the sale of remedies for plant 

 pests and diseases [R.A.E., A, viii, 467] unless they have been duly 

 authorised, the author asks that the matter of control of pests other 

 than those of plants should be included within its scope. A prepara- 

 tion called " Hidot," claimed to have as its active principle the fungus 

 Empusa muscae, was tested against flies with entirely negative results. 



Zuelzer (M.). Beitrage zur Biologie von Argas persicus, Wldh. 



[Contributions to the Biology of A. persicus.] — Arb. aus dem 



Reichsgesundheitsamt, Hi, no. 1, 1920. (Abstract in Zeitschr. 



angew. Ent., Berlin, viii, no. 1, September 1921, p. 225.) 



The absorption of food by Argas Persians, lasting from 20 minutes 



to one hour, increases the volume of the body fourfold. After feeding 



on a fowl, any excess of albumen is passed unchanged through the 



coxal glands, and it is possible that spirochaetes ingested with blood 



may pass these glands without hindrance. Defecation occurs 1-2 



hours after feeding. The female is particularly likely to mate after 



