48 R. NEWSTEAD—THE PAPATACI FLIES (PHLEBOTOMUS) 
THe SEARCH FOR BREEDING-PLACES OF PHLEBOTOMUS. 
The results of my unremitting search for the breeding-places of these insects 
were that I secured two larvae from the crevices of the loose rock in the “caves’ 
or catacombs at Notabile near the centre of Malta; thereby confirming the 
discoveries made by Captain Marett (6)* a month or so previously. Had my 
searches been continued in the same kind of habitat I have reason to believe 
that a few more larvae would have been secured, but having trained the eye so 
as to facilitate the finding of so minute an object the more readily on any future 
occasion, I proceeded in Pe directions, and searched innumerable places that 
were thouelit likely to form suitable breeding-grounds for these insects, 
unfortunately without discovering either eggs, ice or pupae ; disappointment 
met me at every turn and I am therefore unable to add anything that is new 
or noteworthy regarding the breeding-places of Phlebotomus papatasii or any of 
the allied species. 
In addition to the cave from which larvae were secured I also inspected the 
places in which both larvae and pupae had been found by Captain Marett ; 
these were the cave at Gozo, the embankment forming part of the Cottonera 
Lines, and the stone wall in Captain Marett’s garden, which he had thoroughly 
explored and had also kept under close and constant observation for a consider- 
able time. In all of these places the conditions were very similar, if not almost 
identical. 
In the caves the larvae occurred in the crevices and fissures beneath the loose 
rock amongst the damp earth, &c., at some distance from the surface, and I was 
informed that those which were found in the stone wall, occurred low down near 
the foundations, well within the centre, and attached chiefly to the under surface 
of the stones ; while those from the Cottonera embankment were found at some 
considerable distance from the surface, where the stones were damp (6). 
The crevices between the loose rock in the caves were often found partly filled 
with soil rich in organic remains. In the caves at Notabile, in which the larvae 
were found, the soil had for the most part been reconstituted by the burrowing 
larvae of various insects and other allied animals. To such an extent had this 
been done in some instances that quite 50 per cent. of the deposit consisted of the 
rejectamenta of insects, woodlice ( Oniscus sp.), &c. Here and there were found 
also large numbers of the empty pupae of Stomoxys calcitrans and the pupae of 
other Muscid flies whose larvae had matured in the stable refuse which had been 
stored in the cave for agricultural purposes. 
In all of these places the conditions were practically the same, the three main 
factors being: (a) the presence of organic matter; (4) moisture, but not in 
excess ; and (c) the absence of light. 
The principal places which were searched as being likely to afford suitable 
breeding-grounds for Papataci flies were as follows :—The main sewers and the 
ventilating shafts in various parts of the city of Valetta ; drains of various kinds, 
cesspools and latrines in many places; cellars and prison cells in the Police 
Court ; sewage works, and the dark damp buildings used by the Customs as 
“ Such numbers refer to the bibliography on p. 77. 
