240 Flagellate Infections in Certain Hemiptera in Uganda. 



3. The crithidial forms merge into the herpetomonad types. 



The appearance of the crithidial forms is probably due to the rapid growth 

 of the flagellum, which is finally very long, causing the displacement of the 

 kinetonucleus. The flagellum is in any case attached to the periplast for part 

 of the way, and the development of the membrane in these forms is never 

 more than a very narrow ridge of periplast along which the flagellum runs 

 It looks as though when the body lengthened out this uneven growth were 

 compensated and the herpetomonad type was reached, partly by the drawing 

 out of the posterior end of the body, and partly by the moving forward again 

 of the kinetonucleus. 



Many herpetomonad infections show this confusion of types, for instance 

 that of the house-fly in Europe and also in India. No work has been done 

 on these forms which has clearly shown the connection of these various forms 

 one with another. In the house-fly the difficulties in the way are very great, 

 and the life-histories of herpetomonads seem to be in need of further study. 

 It is hoped that the form in Leptoglossus may be worked at in greater detail, 

 as this bug breeds readily in captivity and is easily fed. 



The first of the infections just discussed occurs in a bug belonging to the 

 family of the Capsidas (V); it is found in or near forest and is of the same 

 light brown colour as the fallen leaves on which it runs. Its food is not 

 known and it is apparently not a very common bug. Figs. 11-19 illustrate 

 the main types found in this infection. 



The second of these infections was found in a red and black reduviid (XV) 

 which has not as yet been identified. It is a common species and feeds on 

 small bugs and on other insects ; the specimens are frequently infected, but I 

 have not so far found any showing the flagellates in the salivary glands. The 

 herpetomonas is small in size, and some of the infections, notably those in 

 which the crithidial forms are numerous, show large numbers of small rounded 

 forms without a flagellum. Figs. 20-33 show the features of the parasite 

 more clearly than any mere verbal description. 



I am indebted to Mr. Gowdey, the Government entomologist, for kindly 

 identifying the species named. 



