119 



Shiraki (T.). Blood-Sucking Insects of Formosa. Part. 1. Taba- 

 nidae (with Japanese Species). — Agric. Expt. Sta., Taihoku, 

 1918, 442 pp.. 11 plates. [Received 15th April 1920.] 



Most of the blood-sucking insects found in Formosa belong to the 

 same families as those found in the Palaearctic and Oriental regions ^ 

 but some of them, such as the new Tabanid genus Isshikia may be 

 peculiar to the Island. In this work the Tabanids only are dealt with. 



These flies, owing to their large size, are the most formidable in 

 appearance of the blood-sucking insects of the Islands. They may be 

 met with throughout the summer in fields, open spaces and sometimes 

 in the open rooms of Japanese houses. Practically nothing is known 

 of their life-histories in Formosa, but as in other countries, they are 

 preyed upon by Asilids. A female of Microstylutn oberthuri, Wulp, for 

 example, has been observed in Formosa feeding upon Chri/sops sinensis, 

 and similar species prey upon other species of Chrysops and Atylotus, 

 but the males only are attacked and there is no record of the females 

 being devoured by Asilid flies. There are, as yet, no Hymenopterous 

 parasites of the eggs of Tabanids known in the Islands. 



A list of 60 species of Tabanids known to Formosa is given, with 

 descriptions of each. New species recorded are Corizoneura yezoensis 

 Chrysops basalis, Haeniatopota sakhaliiiensis , H. formosana, Tabanus 

 kotoshoensis, T. arisnnus, T. sapporoensis, T. iyoensis, T . fulvimedioides 

 T. okinawanus, T. sapporoemis and T. takasagoensis. T. coquilletti, 

 n. n., is proposed for T. tenebrosus, Coq. (nee Walker). 



A new genus, Isshikia, is erected for Dichelacera japonica, Big. 

 A key to the Japanese genera is given. 



Hase (A.). Ein Beitrag zur Fiiegenplage. [A Note on the Fly 

 Plague. J — Zeifschr. f. angew. Erttom., Berlin, iii, no. 1, 1916, 

 pp. 117-123, 1 fig. [Received 19th April 1920.] 



During the campaign on the eastern front from June to August 1915 

 the following species were found to be abundant : Musca domestica, L., 

 Fannia {Honialomyia) canicularis, L., {H.) scalaris, F., Sarcophacja 

 carnaria, L., Calliphora erythrocephala, Meig., C vomitoria, L., Muscina 

 stctbidans. Fall., Lucilia caesar, L., and Eristalis. 



The flies were most abundant in the small villages of Poland where 

 only the most primitive sanitary conditions exist. In many cases the 

 stables form part of the dwelling house, and owing to the lack of drainage 

 all refuse including animal and human excreta is thrown into the open 

 field. All liquid refuse was usually poured into the gutter, which emptied 

 itself into a shallow basin at the end of the village, thus forming an evil 

 smelling stagnant pool. Under these conditions the usual remedial 

 measures such as fly-traps, etc., were practically useless, as the only 

 possible means of reducing the pest would be the destruction of the 

 enormous breeding area. Where possible large trenches were dug 

 and the refuse welT covered with soil, but as the extent of this work 

 was very limited, very little benefit was thereby obtained. The 

 necessity for the organisation of systematic control measures including 

 thorough sanitation of the villages in the district under consideration 

 is emphasised. Temporary relief was obtained by the use of mosquito 

 nets and traps consisting of shallow saucers containing beer and arsenic. 



