This paper is intended as the first of a series in which it is proposed to record the results of an examination of a large collection of termites from various parts of the Australian continent. The greater part of this collection has been gathered in the northern districts of the Northern Territory, and in North Queensland, but during the past year it has been considerably increased by the addition of numerous small collections received from correspondents in Victoria, Western Australia and South Queensland, and now contains individuals from over 800 colonies. Through the courtesy of the authorities of the South Australian Museum I have been able to examine a number of co-type specimens which have been of the greatest assistance in clearing up many doubtful identifications. In addition to these, I have been able to study many species from localities not represented in my own collection.

A mosquito survey, having as its object an enquiry into the distribution and prevalence in certain Far Eastern Ports of Stegomyia fasciata, the known carrier of yellow fever, was begun, on behalf of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, by Dr. A. T. Stanton, whose report was published in the Bulletin of Entomological Research (Vol. x, pt. 3). As it seemed unlikely that he would be at leisure to complete the observations by a survey of the ports of China and Japan, as had been planned, the writer was instructed, in April 1921, by the Government of the Federated Malay States, at the suggestion of the Imperial Bureau, to complete the enquiry.

Of the many insects which we now know to be dangerous menaces to the health of man, the house-fly, Musca domestica, has few (if any) equals, but the facts relating to its germ-transmitting capacity are unfortunately still very incomplete. In the case of those Anopheline mosquitos which transmit the parasites of malaria, and the tsetse-flies, which infect man and other animals with trypanosomes, we are in a position to estimate the inefficiency and loss of life directly attributable to them, for in each case we know most of the species directly responsible for the dissemination of these parasites. But in the case of the house-fly we have no conclusive proof that Bacillus typhosus, for instance, is carried by one, or more than one, species of Musca. Further, by the time the cases are diagnosed, the infected flies have either died or disappeared, and it is rarely possible to trace the infection to them. It is true, however, that many observers have recorded the finding of pathogenic bacteria in, and on, species of Musca, but the final proof of the identity of these bacteria has invariably been faulty. Yet in spite of these discrepancies there is no doubt, from everyday practical observation the world over, that one, and more than one, species of Musca regularly carry the bacilli of the enteric fever, cholera and dysentery groups, as well as many other pathogenic organisms, especially the virus of trachoma, from infected material and deposit them on food and the human body. In investigating outbreaks of infectious diseases the house-fly should always be considered as a possible vector of the causal organisms.

Mr. Malcolm E. MacGregor's interesting paper, “The Influence of Drought upon Mosquito Life in Surrey” (Bull. Ent. Res. xii, p. 205), has led me to examine our records of observations made in that county in connection with inquiries into indigenous malaria in England. As regards certain areas of the country during the past year, our experience of the scarcity of some kinds of mosquitos is the same as Mr. MacGregor's, but (if it is desired to draw conclusions for the country as a whole) it seems important also to note that there are other areas in which the findings differ from those in the particular locality upon which he reported. Dorking, Epsom and Arbrook Common, which are within a few miles of Wisley, are examples of such areas. In these and some other localities in the county we have obtained larvae of A. bifurcatus without difficulty throughout the year. At Epsom, large numbers of larvae of this species in the fourth instar were found early in February this year in a well-shaded permanent pool, which we have examined regularly since 1917, and adults were caught in the open in April. Larvae were numerous throughout the year, and adults, both male and female, were captured in the open as late as 22nd October. At Dorking, larvae of bifurcatus were plentiful in several natural collections of water throughout the year. One of them—the “Mill Ponds stream”—is only 100 yards from a row of houses; another—the “Stonebridge stream”—yielded bifurcaus larvae on 19th August at every place examined along a stretch of 400 yards. On the same day many larvae of this species were found, along with larvae of C. pipiens, in the rainwater barrel of a house about 200 yards from the stream.

This marked genus appears to be intermediate between Atheroides, Haliday, and Sipha, Passerini.

The potentialities of Siam as a field for discovery have hitherto been almost entirely neglected by collectors of Diptera, and in consequence, apart from an occasional description of a new species, little or nothing has been published upon the Siamese representatives of this Order. It follows that the only available method of making determinations of such material is the exceedingly laborious and wearisome one of reading through descriptions of the older authors like Wiedemann and Macquart, which, though based on types collected in other parts of the Oriental Region, may possibly be found to apply to one or other specimen from Siam.

It has been stated by Malloch and other authors that the superficial differences between the various species of Simulium in the adult stage are often so minute as to be discernible only after a very careful study of the genus. Previous studies had led the writer to believe that the characters of the pupal respiratory filaments would prove to be of constant specific value, but further investigation has caused this view to be modified with regard to the actual branching, though the structure of the chitinous wall and the general appearance still seem to be constant specific characters.

To entomologists in India the three species of mango Jassids—Idiocerus niveosparsus, I. atkinsoni and I. clypealis—are fairly well known, both on account of their wide distribution and also on account of the serious damage they do to the mango crop. In the course of our studies on these important orchard pests we have within the past three years come across three natural enemies of the adult hopper and one of the nymph; These are (1) a Pipunculid fly; (2) a Stylopid—both internal parasites; (3) an Epipyropid moth—an external parasite of the adults: and (4) a Dryinid wasp—an external parasite of the nymphs.

Male.—General coloration fuscous, with the vertex of the head, pectus, underside of abdomen, anal region, legs and base of antennal shaft mouse-grey. Fore-wings, above, covered with mouse-grey scales, amongst which are scattered irregular patches of fuscous-black scales, these predominating but forming no definite pattern; beneath, covered more uniformly with fuscous-black scales, except in the region between the first anal vein and the inner margin, which is covered with narrow elongate oval mouse-grey scales. Hind-wings above and beneath covered with fuscous scales, the inner margin furnished with long fuscous hairs. Cilia of both wings fuscous-black.

Head.—Eyes dark red; vertical triangle black, frons dull black, lower part with a somewhat quadrate greyish dust spot; face dull black, lower half appearing grey when viewed from above. Antennae dull yellowish, third joint distinctly pointed, moderately long and almost sub-triangular. Occiput moderately produced behind eye margins, black, with a little grey dust. Thorax moderately shining black, middle of dorsum with yellowish brown dust and a little pale pubescence; pleurae blackish, with some greyish dust. Abdomen shining black; a very little yellowish pubescence towards sides: genitalia with a yellowish tinge. Legs mainly yellow; coxae black, also a broad median band on femora (possibly incomplete in some individuals); tarsi darker towards tips; all femora with a row of very small bristles on about apical half of underside. Wings clear; stigma very pale yellow; anterior crossvein at about two-fifths of the discal cell; halteres yellowish. Length, 2·5–3·5 mm.

Subcylindrical, brilliant metallic green to coppery green, with legs and three last ventral segments fulvous, and a large fulvous spot on vertex of head.

The following few notes are intended to supplement the excellent account of the life-history and habits of this insect already published by Mr. P. A. Buxton (Bull. Ent. Res. xi, pp. 181–186). Working as an Assistant Entomologist under the Agricultural Directorate at Baghdad, during the year 1919–1920, I had a few opportunities of observing this pest in Mesopotamia. I met with it in small numbers at Museyib on the Euphrates in June 1920, and at Karradah (a suburb of Baghdad) from June to the middle of September of the same year. It is evidently sporadic in its distribution; for I did not find it in gardens at Jadriyah, situated only three miles west of Karradah, nor did I notice it in any of the gardens at Hillah, which is situated on the Euphrates, about 25 miles south of Museyib.

The mosquito, Psorophora posticata, Wied. (Janthinosoma musica, Say), commonly deposits its eggs in the rain-water that accumulates in the broken cacao pods strewn in heaps about the cool shady parts of cacao fields.