20 days, in October about 25, and in May, 30. It is inferred that 

 fertilisation may take place before the adults emerge from the host. 

 The points of difference between Australencyrtus and the closely 

 related Echthrogonatopus are given. Paraspilomicrns froggatti, gen. 

 et sp. n., was first obtained from pupae of Lucilia in 1920, eight 

 adults being bred from a single pupa. Fertilisation takes place after 

 the adults emerge. 



The economic importance of these parasites is discussed. Dirhinus 

 sarcophagae, Hemilexomyia abnipta, Pachycrepoideus duhius, Para- 

 spilomicrus froggatti and Spalangia miiscidarum are too scarce to be 

 of economic importance. Nasonia hrevicornis has been considered 

 the chief factor in blow-fly control, but its value depends on the ratiO' 

 of the number of pupae to which it has access. In the experiments 

 here described, undertaken partly in the laboratory and partly under 

 natural local conditions, but not under sheep-district conditions, the 

 percentage of pupae above the surface of the ground was found to be 

 considerably less than those in the soil, and the Chalcid did not dig 

 into the ground to reach the latter. The results obtained in April 

 proved that heavy rains were unfavourable to the parasite, as no 

 pupation occurred on the surface. Another deficiency on the part 

 of Nasonia is the alleged inactivity of the parasite when the flies 

 are most active — mentioned in the report of the Blow-fly Committee, 

 Institute of Science and Industry, December 1920 [cf. R.A.E., B,. 

 ix, 156]. 



Chalcis spp., which are rare, Australencyrtus giraidti, which is easily 

 bred and is fairly common in Brisbane, and, in Britain, the Braconid, 

 Alysia mandncator, attack larvae. The latter lays a large number 

 of eggs and only one in each maggot, and is worth introducing into 

 Australia, provided that it is not known to parasitise useful insects. 



A table of the parasites and their hosts in Australia is given. 



Martini (E.). Die Tasterfrage bei den Stechmiicken. [The Question 

 of the Palpi of Mosquitos.] — Arch. Schiffs- it. Trop.-Hyg., Leipzic, 

 XXV, no. 10, October 1921, pp. 295-301, 3 figs. 



This paper discusses the structure of the palpi of mosquitos, with 

 particular reference to the manner in which reduction in length has 

 be§n brought about, first in the females and afterwards also in the 

 males of various genera. The author supports the view that in this 

 group of insects neither the length nor the number of joints of the 

 palpi can be used for systematic purposes. He considers that the 

 primitive palpus of the Nematocera was 5-jointed. 



Jablonowski (J.). A bor-vagy eezetmuszlicza. [The Wine or 

 Vinegar Fly.] — Termeszettndomdnyi Kozlony, Budapest, liii, 

 no. 771-774, 15th October 1921, pp. 269-281, 6 fi.gs. 



The synonymy of Drosophila melanogaster , Mg. {oenophila, Lw.*), is 

 discussed. This fly is very common and occurs everywhere, usually 

 swarming in fermenting substances. 



The egg and larval stages are described. In summer the life-cycle 

 occupies 12 days, but in winter even in partly heated buildings it 

 lasts 60-70 days or more. The larva does not feed on fermenting 

 or decomposing matter itself, but upon the jelly-like layer that covers 



[* This name is apparently a slip for ampelophila, Lw. — Ed.] 



