Eo ae 
W. G. Bruce, Fargo, N. Dak., reports that, "A gnat (Hippelates 
sp.) is reported as a most troublesome pest throughout central Florida 
from Orlando north. This pest does not bite or sting but great num— 
bers fly about the face of man, getting into the eyes, ears, and nose. 
While out collecting birds one day (about January 28th) in the Ocala 
area, these gnats were so annoying that it was impossible to sight a 
gun. At Mt. Dora and Ocala eye trouble is reported among school children 
and this gnat is accused of being responsible for it." 
0. G. Babcock, Senora, Tex., reports as follows on the lOongeviay 
of goat scab mites: "On January 2, 1932, a large mass of scab mites were 
removed from a scabby goat and placed in pill boxes. * * * The mites 
were placed in an incubator where the temperature was maintained at 88° 
to 90° F., and an average humidity of 66 per cent. * * * By the 14th 
day all the mites had died, except 39 which were alive and active. Nine 
more died after 2 days' time. By the 2lst day, 7 mites were alive and 
active, but by the 28th day only 3 mites remained alive. Two remained 
alive on the 29th day, but one of these was barely active. One mite was 
still alive and active after 30 days, and no doubt will live a day or 
two longer. This shcws that well-fed goat scab mites under ideal con— 
ditions may live apart from the host for at least a month; hence a pas— 
ture under quarantine to be clean must be kept free from scabby goats 
for a minimum period of 4 to 6 weeks." 
R. A. Reberts, who is engaged in studies of overwintering of para— 
Sites and predators of blowflies at Uvalde,. Tex., says: * "Themena 
blowfly parasite adults active during January were Brachyreria fons— 
colorkbei Duf. and. Mormoniella vitripennis Wlk. One adult of B. fons— 
colombei emerged January 19; this is not unusual, for a few specimens 
of B. fonscolombei usually emerge during January, often as late as 
January 21. The pupal parasite was abundant throughout the menth." 
In regard to predators, he states: "In the overwintering cages, Saprinus 
lugens Er. continues to be active in both adult and immature forms. 
Numerous adults have been alive and active since November. Eggs are 
being secured and all stages of larvae and pupae are present." 
STORED PRODUCT INSECTS 
Newell E. Gocd, Sligo, Md., in his biological studies of the con— 
fused flour beetle (Tribolium confusum Duv.) and the rusty-red flour 
beetle (TI. ferrugineum Fab.), has found that "Adults of both species 
may live for two years or even longer. In T. confusum the cviposition 
pericd may last as long as 14 months, while the average is aboutS months. 
In T. ferrugineum it is slightly less. A female of either species usual-— 
ly lays 400 to 500 eggs during this time and in some cases nearly 1,000 
eggs have been laid by a single female. The average incubation period 
at 27° C. is 6.8 days for T. confusum and.5.5 days for T. ferrugineum. 
The number of larval instars varies from 6 to 11, with an average of 
7 or 8. The larval period at 27° C. varied from 27 to 90 days, according 
to the focd used. It is slightly longer for T. confusum than fore? 
ferrugineum. Whole wheat flour, middlings, bran, corn-meal, oatmeal, 
and white flour were the focds used in the order of their acceptability." 
