194 



TowNSEND (C. H. T.). On the Reproductive and Host Habits of 



Cuterebra and Dermatobia. — Science, Philadelphia, xlii, no. 1077, 

 20th August 1915, pp. 253-255. 



Cuterebra belongs to the same group of flies as Dermatobia hominis, 

 the eggs of which are now beheved to be carried by blood-sucking 

 mosquitos of the genus Jantlmiosoma. A female of Cuterebra cuniculi 

 was found on a plant growing in a moist situation at Beltsville, Mary- 

 land, on 25th June 1915. The fly was inactive and had probably 

 recently emerged. It was kept alive until 2nd July, when it was 

 killed and dissected. The presence of an incubating uterus indicated 

 that the egg undergoes development up to the young larval stage 

 wfthin the parent. In the case of Cuterebra, the larvae almost certainly 

 reach the host by accident. The eggs are probably deposited in the 

 burrows of rabbits or other small mammals parasitised by this species. 

 Adults have been found in considerable numbers in the south-western 

 mountain regions of North America, almost invariably near running 

 water. Dermatobia does not reach its host by the same means as 

 Cuterebra. The carriage of Dermatobia eggs by Janthinosoma has been 

 recorded from Trinidad and Venezuela. It may be supposed that 

 Dermatobia has a reproductive system and egg similar to that of 

 Cuterebra. Several distinct species of blood-sucking Diptera may be 

 employed by the fly for carrying its eggs ; species of Chrysops have 

 been suggested in this connection. It is certain that oviposition on 

 foliage does not occur and the fly probably captures the elected carrier 

 and holds it, while gluing the eggs firmly to the underside of its body 

 in such a position that it will come into immediate contact with the 

 skin of any animal bitten by the carrier. 



LuTz (A.). Sobre a sistematica dos tabanideos, sub-familia Tabaninae. 



[On the systematics of the Tabanidae, sub-family Tabaninae.] — 

 Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz, Rio ds Janeiro, vi, no. 3, 1914, pp. 163- 

 168. [Received 10th August 1915.] 



This is a key to the genera of the sub-family Tabaninae, in Brazil. 



Neiva (A.). Informacoes.sobre o berne. [Notes on " Berne."] — Mem. 

 Inst. Osivaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, vi, no. 3, 1914, pp. 206-210, 

 2 plates. [Received 10th August 1915.] 



Real knowledge of Dermatobia hominis has been greatly interfered 

 with by the credence given to popular accounts of its life-history, 

 which are often very erroneous. In Brazil nearly all species of 

 TiPULiDAE, Volucella obesa and a species of Mesembrinella are accused 

 of producing the warbles ; in Mexico, the Lymexylonid beetle, 

 Atractocerus brasiliensis, and in Matto Grosso, several species of the 

 genus Echinomyia are suspected. Recently in Minas Geraes, Lutz 

 has found Anthomyia heydenii, Wied., carrying ova greatly resembling 

 those figured by Surcouf, but these were proved not to be eggs of 

 Dermatobia. In the course of five years study of the subject, many 



