Bodkin (G. E.) & Cleare (L. D.)- Notes on some Animal Parasites 

 in British Guiana.- -iS////. EhIoih. Research, London, vii, no. 2, 

 October 191G, pp. 179-190, 3 figs., 1 map. 



In British Guiana the presence of ticks is universally regarded with 

 indifference, though very considerable financial loss is sometimes 

 caused by them. The following species are recorded in this paper, with 

 brief notes concerning them : — Argas persicus, Wald., common m fowl- 

 houses, Wiipicephalus sanguineus, Latr., all stages of which are found 

 on dogs, Margaropus anmdatus var. australis, Fuller, on cattle, 

 Amblyontma cajennense, F., a parasite of man, A. humerale, Koch, on 

 turtles, and A. dissimiJe, Koch, a common parasite of toads, lizards, 

 and many snakes. In the coastal region Tabanidae are of common 

 occurrence, large numbers of only a few species being present. 

 In the forest areas, these species seldom occur and their place is taken 

 by numerous others, some of which are comparatively rare. No 

 opportunity has yet occurred for collecting or making definite obser- 

 vations in the savannah lands near the Brazilian border, which are 

 stated to be particularly rich in Tabanidae. The common species 

 that attack live-stock on the coast- lands are Tabanus trilineatus, Latr., 

 T. senior, Wile, and T. semisordidus, Wlk. ; of these the first-named 

 is possibly the commonest and most widely distributed, occurring over 

 both the coastal and forest areas. This species, which has not been 

 observed attacking man, is frequently attracted to artificial light. 

 T. trifascia, Wlk., is a closely allied species with very similar habits. 

 A recent outbreak of Trypanosoma eqninum, (Mai de Caderas) arnong 

 the sugar-plantation mules was in all probability propagated by biting 

 flies, and most of the common species of Tabanidae and other biting 

 flies, such as Stomoxys calcitrans, were observed on affected mules. 

 S. calcitrans is common in the coastal area and in many of the inhabited 

 areas of the inland regions. In the absence of other food suppHes it 

 readily attacks man. The principal enemies of the Tabanids are large 

 Bembecine wasps, of which the species most frequently met with on 

 the coast-lands are Monedida signata, Latr., M. punctata, Lep., and 

 M. surinamensis, Dahlb., while in the forest area, M. pantherim, 

 Handl., is common. Bembidula discisa, Tasch., and B. variegata, Oliv., 

 also occur in this region. The Asilid fly, Mallophora calidus, F., is an 

 occasional enemy of small Tabanids in the coastal area. Dicranomyia 

 cervus, Wied., is not uncommon in some of the interior districts and 

 readily attacks man. Chrysops iristis, ¥., is widely distributed 

 throughout the coast region and occurs occasionally in the forest area. 

 Both this species and C. costata, F., have a tendency to attack man. 

 The latter is only met mth in districts where the soil is of a sand}- 

 nature and in the proximity of large areas of fresh water. C. fulviceps, 

 Wlk., apparently only occurs in the forest area. Single examples of 

 Bolbodimyia bicolor. Big., and of Lepidoselaga crassipes, F., were taken 

 while attacking man. At certain times of the year, Diachlorus scutel- 

 latus, Macq., D. podagricus, ¥., and D. curvipes, F., are extremely 

 abundant and very obnoxious, o\\T[ng to their persistent attacks on 

 human beings ; they occur in the forest areas, especially near the 

 rivers ui the North- West District. Dichelacera damicornis, F., and 

 D. testacea, Macq., are found in the forest region and readily attack 

 man. Tabanus senior, Wlk., and T. semism'didus, Walk., which are 



