353 



BuLLAMORE (G. W.). Noscma apis and Acarapis (Tarsonemus) 

 woodi in relation to Isle of Wight Bee Disease. — Parasitology, 

 Cambridge, xiv, no. 1, April 1922, pp. 53-62. 



The occurrence of bee diseases prior to 1906 and the outbreak of 

 Isle of Wight disease in that year, as well as the investigations of various 

 authors in order to ascertain the cause of the latter, are reviewed. 

 Acarine disease [R.A.E., A, ix, 275] appears to be less virulent than 

 that which occurred in the Isle of Wight early in the present century. 

 It is possible that most stocks affected with mites, although showing 

 no symptoms of disease, die out sooner or later. Therefore, although 

 Acarapis {Tarsonemus) woodi may not be the cause of Isle of Wight 

 disease, its existence emphasises the superiority of the older system 

 of beekeeping, which considered it undesirable to retain any stock 

 after the third season, the less vigorous colonies being sulphured at 

 an earlier period. Ever since the introduction of the " humane " 

 system by which the redundant bees are distributed as " driven bees " 

 throughout the land, there has been a steady increase in disease, 

 rendering honey production an improfitable industry. The author 

 does not consider that sufficient suitable material has been examined 

 to disprove the occurrence of A. woodi outside Great Britain [loc. cit.]. 

 This Acarid will probably prove to be comparatively harmless in 

 countries where two or more honey harvests and constant breeding 

 are the rule, and it is in such districts that endemic centres of the 

 disease may be expected to be found. 



Morris (H. M.). On the Larva and Pupa of a Parasitic Phorid Fly— 



Hypocera incrassata, Mg. — Parasitology, Cambridge, xiv, no. 1, 

 April 1922, pp. 70-74, 1 plate, 4 figs. 



Descriptions are given of the larva and pupa of Hypocera incrassata, 

 Mg., parasitising Bibio marci. In the laboratory larvae of this Phorid 

 were seen leaving the host in January ; they pupated in the soil, and 

 adults emerged from 24th June to 1st July. i\ comparison is drawn 

 between the larva of H. incrassata and those of Phora bergenstammi, Mik, 

 P. rufipes, Mg., and P. ruficornis, Mg., as described by Keilin. 



Report on the Prevalence of some Pests and Diseases of Crops in the 

 West Indies during 1920. (Compiled from the Reports of the 

 Principal Local Agricultural Officers.) — West Indian Bull., 

 Barbados, xix, no. 2, 31st March 1922, pp. 239-271. 



This is a resume of various local reports, the information from 

 which has already been noticed. 



Weiss (H. B.). A Summary of the Food Habits of North American 

 Coleoptera. — American Naturalist, Lancaster, Pa., Ivi, no. 643, 

 March-April 1922, pp. 159-165, 1 fig. 



Of the North American Coleoptera, about 44 per cent, are sapro- 

 phagous, including Staphylinids, Tenebrionids and Scarabaeids, 

 about 26 per cent, are phytophagous, including Curculionids, Ceram- 

 bycids and Chrysomelids, and 27 per cent, are predacious. The latter 

 are composed chiefly of Carabids, which include 2,165 species. 



In the list given the families have been grouped into classes, based 

 mainly on the predominating larval activities of the members of the 

 family. The number of species belonging to each family is recorded. 



(6782) 2 A 



