COLEOPTERA. DIPTERA 403 



II. Coleoptera. 



The larvae of beetles, similarly to those of some other Arthropoda (myriapods 

 and the larvae of gnats), have sometimes been observed in man as purely 

 accidental guests. In one case or another, such accounts may have origi- 

 nated through a decided mistake of the observer. Thus English doctors 

 report the presence of the larvae of Blaps mortisaga in the stools of human 

 beings, Sandberg of the larvae of Agrypnus murinus in his ten-year-old 

 son, and Blanchard mentions the larva of a beetle that was vomited by 

 a child. All these cases, however, do not represent actual parasitism, 

 although there are beetles living parasitically. 1 



[Silvanus surinamensis, Linnaeus (the Saw-toothed Grain Beetle). 



Taschenberg records this beetle as having invaded some sleep- 

 ing apartments adjoining a brewery where stores were kept, and 

 annoying the sleepers at night by nipping them when in their beds. 



This beetle is common in many parts of the world amongst 

 groceries, corn, meal, seeds, dried fruits, &c. ' It is about one- 

 tenth of an inch long, much flattened and chocolate - brown in 

 colour. The thorax, has two shallow grooves and bears six minute 

 teeth on each side. The jaws are strong, but the bite cannot be 

 very serious. F. V. T.] 



III. Diptera. 

 (a) Aphaniptera (Fleas). 



Wingless, the thoracic rings not amalgamated ; antennae three-jointed ; 

 legs very powerful ; abdomen with nine segments. The mandibles trans- 

 formed into serrated puncturing organs, which are situated in the split 

 sheath of the rostrum, originating from the labrum ; the maxillae are 

 laminated and have palpi. 



i. Pulex irritans, L., 1758. 



M a ies 22-5 mm. in length, females about 4 mm. ; reddish or 

 dark brown ; head without bristles ; thoracic and abdominal rings 



1 [Dr. Daniels has sent me a small coleopterous larva found in an abscess on a man 

 in British Guiana. F. V. T.] 



Cobbold T. Sn., " On Blaps mortisaga as a Human Parasite (Bnt. Med. Journ., 

 1877 i P. 420). Sandberg, G., " Et Mfcelde af Coltoptlrlarvers tilhold i tarmkanalen 

 hoi et menneske" (Entom. Tidskrift., Stockh., 1890, p. 77.: C. /. B. u P., 1890 viii., 

 p Ig2 ) Blanchard, R., " Sur ime larve de Colfopt&re vomie par un enfant au Senegal 



" rs. Kafer C. . B. 



p Ig2 ) ancar, ., ur ime arve o 



(Bull. soc. entom., France, 1893, p. 156). Brandes, G., " Ueb. paras. Kafer (C. /. B.. 



P. u. I., 1896, xx., p. 297). 



