1190 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. V, No. 25 
such circumstances the weevils stay in their cells and the plants remain 
dormant until the next year or perhaps for several years. As evidence of 
this the writer kept several of these weevils over 500 days without food or 
water, and one lived 626 days, dying only when moisture invaded the 
room where it was kept. 
Hunter, Pratt, and Mitchell 1 record the unusual ability of larvae 
of Hermetia chrysopila Loew, a cactus scavenger fly, to withstand long 
periods of drought. Larvae in various stages of development were kept 
for more than 15 months without food and ^eveloped readily later 
when food was supplied. The very leathery integument seems to pro¬ 
tect the insect against desiccation, and in other ways the larva has evi¬ 
dently adapted itself to long periods of waiting for favorable food, 
which, in the arid regions, depends upon the infrequent rains. Both 
of these instances are more properly resting periods due to dryness than 
to cold or heat. 
NOMENCLATURE OF CLIMATIC EFFECTS ON LIFE 
As charted, there are three elliptical zones which express the three 
principal effects of climate on life, viz, activity, inactivity, and death. 
The zone of activity may be known as the “ thermopractic ” zone (Qeppds, 
meaning heat, plus 7r poucTiicds, meaning effective). The zone of inactivity 
may be known as the zone of “anesthesia” (iLvouadrjcrla, meaning insensi¬ 
bility). The zone of death may be known as the “ olethric ” zone (o\k 9 pios 9 
meaning deadly). The region of greatest activity may be known as the 
*‘practicotatum zone (tt paicr lkcotcxtov, meaning most effective). 
Many phases of climatic effects have been differentiated, and medical 
literature abounds in words descriptive of these effects. For some 
effects no words are available. The writer has thought it best to present 
a complete and consistent system of nomenclature, based on the Greek, 
using all words already in the language, and only supplying new words 
where none are now available. 2 
It may be convenient to refer to the most effective temperature or the 
most effective humidity, in which cases we may use the words “thermo- 
practicotatum” or “hygropracticotatum.” 
The awakening from sleep is termed “anastasis” {av&vrafns ). We 
can therefore speak of “thermanastasis” and “hygranastasis,” depending 
on whether the awakening is caused by a change of temperature or a 
change of humidity. 
Heat, moisture, dryness, or cold added to the * * practicotatum ’ * will cause 
sluggishness. We have to indicate this condition the term “nochelia” 
1 Hunter, W. D., Pratt, F. C., and Mitchell, J. D, The principal cactus insects of the United States, 
U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. Ent. Bui. 113, p. 38-39. 1912. 
a New Standard Dictionary. 1913. 
Gould, G. M. An Illustrated Dictionary of Medicine, Biology and Allied Sciences . . . ed. 6, with . . . 
Sup . . . 1633, 571 p., Philadelphia, 1910. 
