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Bulletin Wisconsin Natural History Society. [Vol. 10, Nos. 3-4. 
me in 1909 of the great trouble he had with the countless swarms 
of lake flies on some warm nights in spring, as they interfered 
greatly with the keeping of the glass surfaces in perfect polish for 
light transmission. Midges of the specking type like plumosus 
were referred to. I have considered that the lack of scientific iden¬ 
tification of species connected with each complaint was sufficient 
warrant for not reciting a long list of instances here, nor for 
researching for such data extensively. 
The midges are disgusting to the better class stores in Neenah, 
since the fly specks the windows all over and the store entry 
globe lights with green spots larger than typhoid fly specks 
(Mnsca domestica ). This is a worriment to the window cleaners 
every morning of midge season in the several cities along this 
large Lake Winnebago. Similarly, light attracts such myriads of 
midges and two-winged tiny Mayflies at the pier lights of Green 
Lake, Wisconsin, as to put them out, making dangerous the even¬ 
ing boating parties. (Aug. 27, 1911, observation with Dr. Victor 
Kutchin, specimens at the State Entomologist’s office, Madison, 
Wis.) 
It is not my intention to insist that plumosus in particular is of 
as much economic injury as it is of economic value as food for 
other creatures, yet it appears necessary that the evidence should 
be weighed for and against the species. After the varied evidence 
presented throughout the paper, the author could hardly add much 
weight to a decision on the insect’s status by ofifering a personal 
opinion. Therefore, a summary of points will suffice: at times 
of extreme abundance, the larvae in water-troughs and rain barrels, 
but especially in drinking water reservoirs and mains constitute 
a menace despite their scavenging value; as adults, their numbers 
are locally a nuisance to man and beast, causing in one case cited, 
the abandonment of a summer resort, putting out or clogging 
night lights, specking store windows, clothing, and the like. The 
bodies of the alighted or dying flies constitute a befouling mass 
wherever they occur. They are a chief food of useful food fishes 
and frogs, but do not occur at a time of year when necessary to 
the existence of our native birds so far as observed. No one has 
as yet noted any symbiotic relations between the larva and snails, 
