In this paper a short revision of the African forms of the genus Aridelus (formerly Helorimorpha) is given and one new species is described. Of the seven African species now known (some of which will almost certainly fall later as synonyms) three, including the new one, are parasites of the important Hemipterous pest of coffee, Antestia lineaticollis, Stål.

The observations here recorded have been made between April and October 1940, at Amani, Tanganyika Territory.

Two distinct varieties of Helopeltis occur on cinchona at Amani, which correspond well with the descriptions of H. bergrothi, Reut. var. rubrinervis, Popp., and H. bergrothi var. disciger, Popp. (Poppius, 1911).

In this paper four new species are described and two already known ones are discussed. The justification for bringing forward new species in a genus whose Old World members are in a state of great disorder lies in the fact that their hosts are known and are Lepidopterous pests of economic importance.

The types are in the British Museum.

As time passes and knowledge accumulates, it becomes more and more difficult and tedious to know whether a certain insect has been recorded from a particular region or country. The present note is an attempt to save other people's time and to set down what is recorded about the geographical distribution of five species of flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, astia and brasiliensis, Nosopsyllus (Ceratophyllus) fasciatus and Pulex irritans.

1. Two new methods of trapping Ephestia cautella adults in cacao stores are described.

2. In the first method, devised by Mr. J. K. B. Lee, broom strands are treated with an adhesive and then suspended from twine in the alleyways between the stacked bags. Mr. Lee heated two parts of coagulated até (derived from the latex of a species of Carpodinus) with one part of palm oil and applied the adhesive, while hot, to the strands. The writer carried out a long series of experiments with various adhesives, with the object of perfecting the broom strand method, and finally came to the conclusion that the best adhesives for general use were those made by heating three parts of coagulated até with one part of either shea butter or palm oil. The adhesive should be allowed to cool before applying it to the strands.

3. It was discovered, in the Port Harcourt area, that carbolic soap solution is an excellent medium for use in dish traps. The writer found that carbolic soap solution caught many more moths than the standard medium used in Nigeria. Several other types of soap, both imported and locally made, proved to be nearly as effective as carbolic soap. The best strength for carbolic soap solution was found to be from 1 to 2 oz. soap per gal. water.

4. The infestation of ground-nuts by Ephestia is discussed, and the opinion is expressed that this could be considerably reduced if it were found practicable to reduce the length of the export season from 12 to 7 months.

I have been asked by the Imperial Institute of Entomology to identify a beetle found in mushroom-beds in South Africa. This beetle proves to be a new species of Atomaria. The genus Atomaria consists of about 165 species chiefly confined to the holarctic region. One of these, A. linearis, Stephens, is sometimes a serious pest of sugar-beet and mangold, eating the leaves and roots. Other species, e.g. A. nigripennis (Kugelann) and A. atricapilla, Stephens, are found in houses, cellars and warehouses, where they probably feed on fungi.

An account is given of a series of experiments on the feeding habits of Cryptophagus acutangulus, Gyll. It was shown that this species will feed readily on a wide variety of fungi and will only rarely ingest other foods. It thrived when fed exclusively on Penicillium conidia. C. acutangulus is capable of the internal mechanical and external transmission of fungi. Approximately 15 per cent. of the Penicillium conidia germinate after passing through the alimentary canal, and these conidia are so affected that they have an enhanced germination rate. The larvae feed exclusively on the spores and hyphae of fungi.

A complete life-history from egg to adult is given. The larvae and pupae are described for the first time, and a description of the adult is also given.

The genus Phyllotreta has a world-wide range, and contains many serious pests of cultivated crops. Of the 28 described species from Africa, there are few records at present as to their food-plants. The species with yellow longitudinal bands are all very closely related to European species, and could easily be confused with them, but none in the British Museum collection agrees with described European species. G. Grandi has recorded the European species P. memorum, L., from S.W. Africa, and I think it is possible that this is a misidentification. It is almost certain that all the African species will prove to be serious pests.

Notes on insects in the Seychelles have appeared from time to time during the last thirty years in the annual reports of Seychelles Department of Agriculture. These records are now mostly lost; it is therefore the object of the present contribution to place on record such minor pests as have been collected during 1936–1939 inclusive, and have been determined by the Imperial Institute of Entomology.

Since writing my report on the establishment and work of certain predators on coconut-feeding scale-insects in Seychelles (Bull. Ent. Res., 31, 1940, pp. 253–283) some further records of their progress have been received. These records were taken by Mr. A. Michel under the direction of the Director of Agriculture of Seychelles, to whom I am indebted for the figures. The sampling was carried out in 10 of the localities sampled previously, so that the 1940 figures represent the fourth yearly count in each of these localities. The first count in 1937 was made before the predators had been liberated, while the subsequent counts show the yearly progress in scale reduction which has been achieved since they have been active.

A brief historical account of Cimex lectularius in England is followed by an analysis of numerical data regarding infestation in twenty-three towns in England and Wales. The data indicate that in the majority of cases the degree of infestation increases along with the order of magnitude of the town ; one or two exceptional cases are discussed. Comparison of the figures for inland towns and seaports suggests, though more data are desirable, that a low degree of infestation is common in the former whereas the majority of the latter show a moderate or heavy infestation.