The previous paper on the nomenclature of Australian Tabanidae (Ferguson, 1924) was unfortunately despatched for publication long before Enderlein's paper “ Ein neues Tabaniden-system ” (Enderlein 1922) became available in Sydney. Hence certain alterations are necessary to statements which appear in my former paper.

In his recently published paper “ Diptera of Medical and Veterinary Importance, I—Types of Older Authors in Continental Museums ” (Philippine Journ. Sci., xxvii, 2, pp. 177–200, June 1925), Major W.S. Patton (loc. cit., p. 189), writing of Haematobia nudinervis, Stein (Ann. Mus. Nat. Hung., xvi, 1, p. 150, 30 August 1918), states that this is the species hitherto known as Bdellolarynx sanguinolentus, Austen ; and that, since “ nudinervis was described a year before sanguinolentus,” Stein's name for “ this common Oriental bloodsucking muscid …” must henceforth be adopted. On the question of priority, however, Major Patton is in error. The description of Bdellolarynx sanguinolentus (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. (8), iii, p. 290) appeared in March 1909—nine and a half years earlier than that of Haematobia nudinervis, so that the latter designation is antedated by a fairly wide margin.

Most field entomologists studying Anophelines limit their collections of Anopheline larvae to those in the third and fourth instar, owing to the lack of success commonly encountered in rearing those in the earlier stages, and regard the rearing of adults from ova as more or less of a “ stunt,” success being so rare.

The antennae are eight-jointed, viz., scape, pedicel, two ring joints, and four in the club. The second ring joint is very minute, and as it lies practically within the base of the club, its presence is demonstrable only in slowly dehydrated preparations. The number of the major sensoria on the club segments is probably a generic character. In the ♀ this appears to be 1.1.2.3, and in the ♂ 1.1.1.2. The following details of chaetotaxy would also seem to be of generic value : mesoscutum with four stout bristles (one posterolaterally and one in front) ; one on parapside before the tegula and another on the invading portion of the axilla ; scutellum four bristles ; metanotum 2.2 (very minute) ; propodeon two (minute) behind the spiracle.

In connection with further experiments concerned with the significance of the pH of natural and other waters and the relative suitability or unsuitability to the development of the larvae of certain mosquito species, electric currents have been used to alter the pH readings, thus avoiding the necessity of adding extraneous acids or alkalis to bring about this alteration.

The work described in the following paper was undertaken subsequent to Mr. F. D. Golding's investigations (2), which established the significance of Helopeltis spp. (Capsidae) to the Nigerian cotton crop, and which showed that some study of the life-history of this recent addition to the list of Nigerian insect pests was desirable.

1. Chrysops amurensis, Plsk. 1910 (=C. binoculatus, Szilady, 1917).

In the type of C. amurensis, Plsk., which is in the Zoological Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the colouration cannot be considered as having attained its full development. The wings are somewhat indefinitely tinged, but there is a fairly distinct preapical spot ; it is rather narrow, and is separated from the main dark part of the wing by a large pellucid portion, curving into the marginal cell ; in shape and position this incurvation is similar to that of C. dissectus, Lw., and C. ricardoae, Plsk. All other features, such as the shape and size of the facial calli, the relative proportions of the different joints of the antennae, and the colour of the abdomen, are similar to those of C. binoculatus, Szil., as given in Szilady's description. The slight difference between the figures given by Pleske and Szilady in the shape of the central spot of the second tergite of the abdomen is probably due to greasing of the lateral parts. Szilady's figure presents the more normal pattern.

1. A general account is given of the habits and distribution of Tectacoris lineola, together with a description of the adult, and some remarks on the influence of weather conditions on mating.

2. The eggs and the different instars are described, and the period of time occupied by each is given.

3. The connection between Tectacoris lineola and boll rot incidence is established.

4. A table is given illustrating the comparative effect of boll rots and bollworm damage in the past season (1924–1925) on the Cotton Research Farm.

5. The effect of bug punctures on cotton seed and its infection with Fusarium moniliforme are briefly discussed.

The coffee berry-borer (Stephanoderes hampei, Ferr.) was first recorded as a pest in Uganda during the year 1908, and an account of the life-history was given by C. C. Gowdey in his report for the year 1909–10. There is very little doubt that the beetle is indigenous to this country and that its original food-plants were wild species of Coffea. The other parts of Africa in which it is known to occur are Tanganyika Territory, the Belgian Congo and French Gabun. It has also been accidently introduced into Java, Sumatra and Brazil.

The following note records the Ceratopogoninae found in two collections of small insects made by Dr. J. F. Corson at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanganyika Territory, East Africa, 1st to 20th September 1925. All the insects were taken between 5.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. on the windows of either the Bacteriological Laboratory or of a bungalow. We have pleasure in dedicating to the collector the single new species found.

A few larve of Tabanus fasciatus niloticus were obtained on 4th March 1925 near Renk, on the White Nile, their habitat being the Nile cabbage (Pistia stratiotes, Linn.). They were by no means common, a search of a couple of hours yielding but seven specimens. They were lying submerged in the water, supported on the bases of the lower leaves in such a position that their caudal respiratory siphons could be extended to reach the surface of the water, and never more than a single larva occurred on an individual plant. In appearance they were typical Tabanid larvae, except as regards colour ; the normal colour is white to yellowish, but the larvae in question were bright green, similar to the green of the leaves among which they were situated. They were placed in a glass jar with water, plant débris and some Nile cabbages, and taken to Khartoum, the journey occupying ten days. When the contents of the jar were examined in Khartoum two larvae were recovered and removed each to a test-tube containing a roll of filter-paper and water. They fed readily on earthworms.

A new species of Triphleps has been received by the Imperial Bureau of Entomology from Mr. E. Ballard, who reports it as attacking the eggs of Heliothis obsoleta, H.S., in Queensland. Although there are already forty-four species of Triphleps described from all parts of the world, this is the first species to be recorded from Australia. Garman & Jewett have previously (1914) reported Triphleps insidiosus, Say, as feeding on the eggs of H. obsoleta, H.S., in the United States.

These experiments with Locusta migratoria show that temperature conditions during breeding have a great influence on the normal development and general health of this insect. There is a certain limit of favourable temperature, below which the development of the genital products in the imagines ceases, and the insects easily succumb to bacterial diseases.

Megastes grandalis was first reported from Brazil ; there have been no other records until 1919, when it was reported from Trinidad as a serious pest during certain seasons of the year to the roots and tubers of the sweet potato. At present this is the only known food-plant.

The eggs are laid two or three together in the axils of the leaf-petioles or on the underside of the leaf. The laxva at first feeds near the place where it hatches, then travels to the base of the stem and bores its way in, eating out tunnels through the roots and tubers, leaving the cortex untouched. It pupates in a silken cocoon near the surface. The moths live only a few days during which oviposition takes place. Descriptions of the immature stages are given. The writer obtained a Trichogramma egg parasite and Tachinid larval parasites.

This work was undertaken at the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture, Trinidad, West Indies.

The Imperial Bureau of Entomology kindly identified the parasites.

Specimens of the interesting new species described herewith came into the hands of both authors of this paper at about the same time from the same source, and were determined by each as new to science. Each being in ignorance of the fact that the other had received specimens, both proceeded to describe it. Before either description was published, however, the duplication was discovered through correspondence, and the description has been made the subject of this joint paper. The type and allotype specimens are in the United States National Museum, but paratypes are in the British Museum as stated below.

Ectropis deodarae, sp. n.

♂ 38–40 mm. Face rough-scaled. Palpus rather short, rough-scaled beneath. Tongue rather short and slender. Antenna with ciliation about 1, not or scarcely fasciculate. Thorax apparently not crested. Pectus densely hairy. Femora moderately hairy. Hind tibiae not dilated. Abdomen slender, not long. Head and body brown-grey, slightly paler beneath than above ; fore leg banded.

Some months ago I received from Dr. Guy A. K. Marshall, Director of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, London, a collection of termites from Ceylon which he kindly entrusted to me for the purpose of identification. The termites were collected by the Government Entomologist of Ceylon, Mr. T. C. Hutson, in different parts of the island, in tea plantations. If this is the case, the termites were presumably not collected on the plains but at some height above the sea-level, where tea preferably is cultivated. There are, however, no detailed records of the height of the localities.

Theresia (Procris) ampelophaga, Bayle, a moth of the family Anthroceridae (Zygaenidae) is one of the most important pests of the vine in various countries, but the existing accounts of its bionomics are very contradictory and not free from inaccuracies.

From June 1925 to December 1925 a number of Phlebotomus, considered at first to be Phlebotomus minutus, Rondani (1843), were collected in Jericho. As Austen (1921) had recorded P. minutus var. africanus, Newstead (1912), from the Jaffa district and Buxton (1924) had recorded P. minutus only from Haifa and Jerusalem and did not find among his material any specimens with the palpal formula of P. minutus var. africanus, we commenced a systematic examination of our material with particular reference to palpal characters in order to determine whether any varieties of P. minutus occur in Jericho.