56 



It has been claimed that, if introduced, new Hymenopterous 

 parasites would be more effective than Nasonia brevicornis, which 

 appears to be indigenous, but this has not yet been proved. This 

 Chalcid is primarily a parasite of Musca domestica, and in every record 

 of it in the paddocks it has been found in pupae of Chrysomyia albiceps. 

 It has only been obtained from the pupae of injurious Muscid flies, 

 and there are no known hyper-parasites. It is estimated that the loss 

 from sheep-fly infestation is over ;£2,000,000 annually, so that even if 

 the objection that this parasite does not destroy more than 25 per cent. 

 of the pupae is a valid one, its value expressed in money must be 

 considerable [cf. R.A.E., B, ix, 155-157]. 



Stenosterys fulvoventralis, sp. n. (of which a description by Dodd is 

 here given) is probably identical with the species recently described 

 under the name of Ausiralencyrtus giraulti [R. A.E., B, x, 1]. A brief 

 account is given of the following : Chalets calliphorae, Frogg. ; Hemi- 

 lexomyia abrupta, Dodd, bred from pupae of Ophyra nigra and Calli- 

 phora villosa ; Dirhiniis sarcophagae, Frogg., bred from pupae of 

 Sarcophaga aiirifrons and larvae of Calliphora villosa ; and Spalangia 

 grotiusi, Gir., and S. muscidarum, Richardson, bred from blow- 

 fly pupae. 



The European Braconid, Alysia manducatoy, Panz., is a parasite of 

 all flies, particularly Sj^phids, and for this reason the author protests 

 against proposals to introduce a Hymenopteron that is a certain 

 enemy of such valuable flies. 



Attention is called to the following changes in nomenclature of 

 Australian blow-flies : Chrysomyia albiceps, Wied., previously recorded 

 as Calliphora (Pycnosoma) rufifacies ; Chrysomyia flavieeps, Wlk., 

 previously recorded as Calliphora (P.) dux, Esch. ; Neopollenia stygia, 

 ¥., previously recorded as Pollenia {Calliphora) villosa ; Paraealliphora 

 oceaniae, R.-D., previously recorded as Anastellorhina {Calliphora) 

 augur ; and Eumusca australis, Meig., previously recorded as 

 Musca corvina. 



Lawrence (H.). Further Observations upon the Pathogenicity of 

 Demodex (Owen) in the Human Being and of other Parasites 

 producing Skin Diseases. — Med. Jl. Australia, Sydney, 8th Yr., 

 ii, no. 20, 12th November 1921, pp. 419-425, 13 figs. 



Further cases of skin eruptions due to Demodex and unidentified 

 Acari are recorded [cf. R. A.E., B, ix, 186]. FoUicular or red mange 

 in dogs is caused by Staphylococcus pyogenes albus, infection being due 

 to the presence of the mite, Demodex canis, which is usually present 

 in numbers. Cats were found infested with Sarcoptes {Acarus) scabiei. 

 The author thinks these parasites may account for some irregular cases 

 of scabies in man. 



Mason (F. A). Biology in its Relationship to the Leather Industry. — 



Leather Trades Year Book 1921, London, 13th edn., pp. 98-108, 

 3 plates, 1 diagram. 



This paper emphasises the need for the study of biology in connection 

 with the better production of leather. It is reported that in a tannery 

 handhng 130,000 hides a year, 40,000 of these were damaged by warble- 

 flies [Hypoderma], with a depreciation in value of 50 per cent. 



