195 



flies have been captured on cattle and horses, but in no case has pene- 

 tration of the skin by the larva been observed. Dissection of adult 

 females shows that the eggs are probably laid in batches at intervals 

 as they mature. The belief current in Brazil that the fly lays its eggs 

 on leaves is considered erroneous. It has been stated that Dermatobia 

 will oviposit on clothing and this may explain cases in newly born 

 children who have never left the house ; such cases are however rare. 

 Young children may be expected to suffer more than adults, as they are 

 more constantly at home and are less able to defend themselves against 

 the species of Janthinosoma which are common in houses. Women 

 contract " berne " far less than men, and dogs suffer much more than 

 cats, the conclusion being that it is only in places frequented by adult 

 Dermatobia that " berne " can be acquired. Generally speaking the 

 evidence of carriage of the eggs by Janthinosoma or any other fly 

 requires to be considerably strengthened before it can be accepted, 

 and the identity of the eggs and larvae described by Surcouf with those 

 of unquestionable Dermatobia larvae must be carefully confirmed or 

 otherwise. The author believes that mistakes have been made. 



PoRTCHiNSKY (L.). C/itPHM M npocitMUjie cnoco6bi mxt, yHMmoweHifl. 



[Tabanidae and the simplest methods of destroying them.]— 

 «TpyAbi Biopo no SHTOMonoriw YneH. Kowimt. TnaB. Ynpae. 3. 



H 3.» [Memoirs of the Bureau of Entomology of the Scientific 

 Committee of the Central Board of Laml Administration and Agri- 

 culture.] Sixth, enlarged edition. Petrograd, vol. ii, no. 8, 1915, 

 58 pp., 21 figs. 



A general account of the Tabanidae and of their importance as 

 carriers of diseases, such as anthrax, trypanosomiasis, filariasis, etc., 

 is given. Over 100 species are known to exist in Russia, including 

 about 60 species of Tabanus, 18 Chrysops, 6 Haematopota, the remainder 

 being made up of representatives of the genera Nemorius, Sylvius, 

 Hexatoma and Pangonia. They are found over the whole of Russia ; 

 in the polar regions in the north the number of species is limited, but 

 those which occur there are frequently present in enormous numbers. 

 Some of the species found in the North of Russia are Tabanus taran- 

 dinus, which is a serious scourge of reindeer, T. montanus,^ T. tropicus, 

 T. luridus, T. bromius, T. maculicornis and Chrysops coecutiens. Water 

 and plantations of trees are indispensable conditions for the existence 

 and breeding of these pests. The larvae of Tabanus are very voracious 

 and are known to destroy larvae of Rhizotrogus, Omaloplia and 

 caterpillars of Agrotis. Amongst the enemies of Tabanidae is Bembex 

 rostrata ; this species is, however, local and is in turn attacked by 

 various parasites, such as Miltogramma, Parnopes and Chrysis. The 

 eggs of Tabanus are destroyed by Telenomus tahani, Mayr, and 

 Telenomus {Phanurus) tabanivorus, Ashm. The only effective dressing 

 for protecting stock from these flies, appears to be train-oil. These 

 insects have a habit of concentrating in damp places and near pools 

 at which they drink ; this is done on the wing by skimming the surface 

 and taking up water with their proboscis ; owing to their rapid and 

 strong flight, only a portion of the lower side of the body comes in 



