BLOOD-SUCKING ARTHROPODA. 
In view of the possible importance of Blood sucking Arthropoda, 
other than Mosquitoes and Tsetse-flies,* in the dissemination of 
diseases due to micro-organisms, carefully collected and properly 
labelled specimens of Blood-sucking Flies, Fleas, Ticks, etc., are 
urgently needed from all parts of the world. 
BLOOD-SUCKING FLIES. 
With the exception of the Gnats or Mosquitoes (Culicidce), blood¬ 
sucking species of Diptera occur, so far as at present known, only 
in the following families :—Chironomidse, Blepharoeeridse, Simulidae, 
Psychodidse, Tabanidae, Leptidae, Muscidse, and Ilippoboscidae. The 
enormous majority of Blood-sucking Diptera belong to the family 
Tabanidae (Horse-flies or Dun-flies, Clegs, Serut-flies), in which the 
blood-sucking habit is universal in the female sex; in the other 
families enumerated, if we exclude the Simulidm and Hippoboscidae, 
the habit is exceptional, and the species concerned are comparatively 
few. As a rule, the blood-sucking habit is confined to the females, 
and it may be noted as a somewhat remarkable fact, that a large 
proportion of the species have aquatic larvae. 
* “ A Monograph of the Culicidae or Mosquitoes ” (3 Vols. and 1 Vol. of 
plates; 1901, 1903), by F. V. Theobald, “A Monograph of the Tsetse-flies” 
(1903), by E. E. Austen, and a pamphlet on “ Blood-sucking Flies, and How 
to Collect Them,” by E, E. Austen, have been published by the Trustees of 
the British Museum. 
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