128 



Eckstein (F.), Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Stechmiickenparasiten. 



[Contributions to the Knowledge of Parasites of Mosquitos.] — 

 Centralbl. Bakt. Paras. Infekt., Jena, Ite. Abt. Orig., Ixxxviii, 

 no. 2, 13th April 1922, pp. 128-135, 4 figs., 1 plate. 



The author has found the cercaria of Disiomum sp. in the larvae of 

 Anopheles macidipennis, and what were probably gregarines in Aedes 

 cinereus and A. {Culicada) vexans. A Nematode occurred in Culex 

 pipiens, but not in A. maculipennis, A. bifurcatus, or Culex hortensis 

 {territans) living in the same pool. A Trematode was, however, found 

 in all four species. 



FiJLLEBORN ( — ). Ueber ^^ Cercaria armata^^ und Miickenlarven. 



[C. armata and Mosquito Larvae.] — Arch. Schiffs- u. Trop.-Hyg., 

 Leipsic, xxvi, no. 3, March 1922, pp. 78-81, 3 figs. 



As a result of aquarium experiments with Culex pipiens and Theo- 

 haldia annulata, it would appear that Cercaria armata is a valuable 

 auxiliary in combating mosquito larvae, and an experiment under 

 natural conditions is suggested. 



Martini ( — ). Ueber den Einfluss der Wasserzusammensetzung auf 

 die Kiemenlange bei den Miickenlarven. [The Influence of the 

 Composition of Water on the Length of the Gills in Mosquito 

 Larvae.] — Arch. Schiffs- u. Trop.-Hyg., Leipsic, xxvi, no. 3, 

 March 1922, p. 82. 



Experiments show that larvae bred in salt solutions have short gills, 

 and those bred in dilute acid have long ones. The extremes were • 6 

 in sea water from the Baltic and 2 • 4 in phosphoric acid, taking the 

 figure for fresh water as 1 . The length of the gills cannot be used as a 

 differential character except with the utmost caution. It is useless 

 in differentiating Aedes puncior and A. nigripes, as done by 

 Wesenberg-Lund, and A. caspius and A. dorsalis by Edwards. 



DuTT (B. N.). Indian Cantharides. — Indian Med. Gaz., Calcutta, 

 Ivii, no. 3, March 1922, pp. 92-93. 



In the drug trade, four kinds of cantharides are used, obtained from 

 Lytta {Cantharis) vesicatoria, L. (the European beetle, generally imported 

 from Spain), Mylabris sidae, F., and M. phalerata, Pallas (chiefly 

 Chinese), and AL chicorii, F. Blister beetles are found in nearly all the 

 Provinces of India, but chiefly in Gwalior, which supplies the require- 

 ments of all the Government Medical Stores Depots. The beetles 

 appear in the fields in July, and can be coflected on cloths spread below 

 the plants. They should be shaken off the plants before sunrise, when 

 they are unable to fly, otherwise the collectors are liable to be attacked. 



Indian cantharides is a more powerful vesicant than European ; 

 while the Spanish beetle yields on an average • 7 per cent, of cantha- 

 ridin, in Indian beetles the percentage varies from 0*7 to 1 • 92. 

 Cantharis hirticornis, from the Murree Hills and Hazara, contains as 

 much as 2-02 per cent. The Indian product ought to fetch higher 

 prices than the others, but at present there are not sufficient supplies 

 even for the home demand. With the spread of knowledge, large 

 quantities of these beetles will no doubt be collected in the N.W. 

 Frontier Provinces for exportation ; at present they are being wasted 

 for lack of enterprise. 



