176 



SiLVESTRi (F). Contribuzione alia Conoscenza dei Termitidi e 

 Termitofili dellAfrica occidentale. II. Termitofili. Parte seconda. 



[A Contribution to the Knowledge of the Termites and Termito- 



philes of Western Africa. II. Termitophiles. Second Part.] — 



Boll. Lab. Zool. Gen. Agrar. R. Scuola Sup. Agric, Portici, 



xiv, 1920, pp. 265-319, 32 figs. [Received 6th February 1921.] 



In this continuation of an earlier paper on termitophilous insects 



[R.A.E., A, vii, 142] an annotated list of Diptera, Lepidoptera and 



Coleoptera associated with termites in Western Africa is given. There 



is also a list of many species of termites found in the nests of other 



species ; this association seems quite accidental, and neither sought 



for nor necessary for any given species. The author never found 



an}^ Rhynchota, but in the Island of Principe, Tennitaphis suhafra, 



Silv., has been taken from nests of Rhinotermes piitorius, Sjost. 



Zacher (F.). Schaben als Schadlinge in Gewachshausern. [Cock- 

 roaches as Greenhouse Pests.] — Gartcnflora [Berlin'], 1920, 

 no. 13-14, pp. 165-168, 2 figs. [Received 7th February 1921.] 



The cockroaches, Blaitella {Phyllodromia) gernianica, L., and 

 Blatta orientalis, L., are domestic pests in Germany, where a few other 

 species, including Aphlebia macidaia, Schaffer, .-1. punctata, Mg., 

 Ectobia lapponica, L., and E. livida, F., are found in the forests. 



As a general rule cockroaches, especially the larger species, 

 need warmth and are confined to the tropics, but a few, such as 

 Periplancta americana, L., and P. aitstralasiae, F., are regularly 

 found in Germany and are not infrequently noxious pests in green- 

 houses. Besides these, Pycnoscelis surinamensis, L., has occurred 

 in greenhouses in the Botanical Garden at Dahlem (Berlin), not 

 having been known in Germany as a greenhouse pest prior to 

 1918. In 1910 Raffil recorded this species from London, and in 

 1917 Zappe reported it on roses in Connecticut [R.A.E., A, vi, 460]. 

 Like Zappe, the author found females only, so that it is probable 

 that parthenogenetic reproduction is possible. 



Two other species, Nauphoeta cinerea, 01., and N. brazzae, BoL, 

 have been observed in London, and the former has also reached 

 Hamburg from East Africa. 



Owing to their hidden mode of life, cockroaches are difficult to 

 combat, although their habit of cleaning themselves by means of their 

 mouth-parts may be utilised. For this reason the best results are 

 attained by placing a poisonous dust or liquid near their retreats. 

 A mixture of equal parts of sodium fluoride and flour has been said 

 to give excellent results. A weaker mixture, consisting of one part 

 sodium fluoride to four of flour proved fatal in experimental work. 

 Pyrethrum is less effective, and only the purest and freshest quaUty 

 is lethal. The remedies advised by Zappe [loc. cit.] are quoted. 

 Raffil advocates closing cracks in the walls, especially near hot pipes, 

 with cement. At Kew, tins fi.lled with rape oil have proved highly 

 efficient traps. 



Garretsen (A. J.). Helopeltis op Sumatra. [Helopeltis in Sumatra.] 



— De Thee, Buitenzorg, i, no. 3, September 1920, pp. 75-76. 



[Received 7th February 1921.] 



The presence of Helopeltis antonii and H. theivora on the east coast 



of Sumatra has been definitely established. No loss to the tea crop 



has resulted as yet, and in advocating great watchfulness and the 



