1. This preliminary paper is an attempt to elucidate the intricate relationship existing between Pempherulus and its physical environments.

2. A convenient technique adapted for evaluating the effects of major climatic factors, such as humidity and temperature, in the case of Pempherulus has been described.

3. Its occurrence only in the irrigated crops is attributable to its high requirements of moisture.

4. A lengthy exposure is necessary to kill the adults in temperatures of 113° and 106°F. An exposure of 6 hours seems to kill them in 122°F. and 48 hours in 113°F. The upper thermal death-point lies roughly near 122°F.

5. The upper vital temperature limit is seen to lie near 100°F. It is indifferent to variation in humidity above 100°F.

6. Adult life is prolonged as the temperature is lowered (within a range descending from 122°F. to 91 °F.) from a longevity of 6 hours to a period of 98 days, respectively. A maximum longevity of over three months is obtained with oviposition, in a mean humidity of 73 per cent, and 91 °F. A high degree of humidity (such as 60 per cent, and 80 per cent.) is necessary in normal temperatures (such as 93°F.) for obtaining maximum adult longevity.

7. Within vital limits the optimum humidity requirements vary directly with the temperature. In 93°F. the optimum lies between 60 per cent, and 80 per cent. R.H. and in 100°F. between 80 per cent, and 100 per cent. R.H.

The properties of two DDT suspensions of a new type, “Supona”-D and “Supona”-DB are described. These suspensions contain about 50 per cent. DDT or 39 per cent. DDT+ 13 per cent. technical BHC respectively in their concentrated forms, the active material being suspended in a complex colloidal oil-water system.

Experiments were carried out with “Supona”-D and a DDT emulsion containing about 30 per cent. DDT dissolved in a mineral oil phase for the control of Glossina palpalis. Both products were applied in dilutions containing 5 per cent. DDT.

Laboratory experiments with leaves of Camellia thea and Begonia sp. showed that the initial toxicity and stability in tropical sunlight of residues of “Supona”-D were somewhat less than those of the DDT emulsion. The resistance to rain, however, was better with residues of “Supona”-D.

This genus was founded to contain the single species— filicum of Maskell, which had been referred by that author to the genus Lecanopsis.

Fertilisation of the indigenous species of Anopheles in England, as far as I know, has not been brought about while the insects were in captivity. Several investigators have attempted to induce fertilisation in order to maintain strains for laboratory experimental purposes, but without success. While in charge of the War Office Entomological Laboratories at Sandwich, Kent, during 1919–1920, I attempted to induce fertilisation in captive Anopheles maculipennis and A. bifurcatus, but failed to do so even under the very favourable environment under which the insects were kept—such as large scientifically constructed insect-cages, an electrically heated insect-house, electrically controlled atmospheric humidity, an animal and human blood supply, etc.

The aphelinid Encarsia bennetti sp. n. is described from material collected in India and associated with Aleurocanthus woglumi Ashby, a pest of citrus.

(1) The experiment was carried out on a short term basis due mainly to the limited time available for stored food products work, but it does show the possibilities of giving to the carrier medium an “adhesive” quality for the purpose of retaining an external layer of DDT upon bagged commodities.

(2) The increased activity at night of insects attacking stored food is interesting and the movement of insect densities in bags containing foodstuffs needs further detailed investigation. It does seem that a very high percentage of adult beetles will migrate to the surface of bags from inside the contained foodstuffs, and this makes it possible to achieve a fair measure of control by coating bags with a deposit of DDT.

(3) When a concentrate mist of a DDT emulsion-gum arabic solution is allowed to settle upon a bag surface, there is no detectable penetration of DDT through the sacking texture and therefore no danger of contaminating the contained foodstuffs.

(4) A deposit of such a DDT film, at a concentration rate of 50 mgm. DDT/sq.ft. upon a jute bag surface, remains appreciably toxic to Tribolium castaneum, Calandra oryzae, Rhizopertha dominica and Laemophloeus spp. for a period of approximately 60 days.

Hypatima mangiferae Sattler sp. n. is described from Kenya, where its larva is injurious to commercial mango trees. A description of its life-history, based on extensive field observations and laboratory studies, is also provided. The moth, its male and female genitalia and the damage caused by the larva are illustrated.

♀.—Nigra; thorace rufo-ferrugineo; segmentis dorsalibus primo secundoque apice bruneotestaceis, albo-fimbriatis; tertio etiam albo-fimbriato.

Specimens of the first of the new species here described were received by the Commonwealth Institute of Entomology from Mr. G. Swaine, Entomologist to the Department of Agriculture, Tanganyika Territory, who reported it as injurious to shoots and young fruits of the cashew nut, Anacardium occidentale L., and of the second through the British Museum (Natural History) from Mr. G. S. Dun, Senior Entomologist, Division of Plant Industry, New Guinea.

Erythroneura lubiae, sp. n.

Colour :—Pale green covered with a whitish pruinosity ; middle of pronotum and apices of tibiae, tarsi and ovipositor of ♀, slightly darker green ; a spot at middle of apical margin of pronotum and a broad stripe down middle two-thirds of scutellum, opaque white. Eyes dark greenish grey, apex of rostrum brown. In some female specimens the head and pronotum are uniformly greenish yellow and the white spots are obsolete. Tegmina more or less hyaline, the veins, clavus, brachial and suprabrachial areas, sub-opaque, suffused with pale green or greenish yellow ; the membrane infuscate towards apex and along inner margin ; claval commissure very narrowly and extreme inner margin of membrane beyond apex of clavus, dark brown ; costal plaque distinct, pallid. Wings whitish hyaline, faintly infuscate towards apex, veins white. Abdomen pale whitish green, basal tergite and anal segment greenish yellow. Tibial spines white.

Structure :—Ocelli absent ; head as wide across eyes as pronotum across humeral angles (47 : 47) ; seen from above slightly less than half as long in middle as wide between eyes (13 : 27), only slightly longer than length at eye (13 : 11) ; face (including clypeus) about 2·25 times as long as wide between antennae (50 : 22) ; frons three times as long as clypeus (36 : 12), which is apically sub-angulate. Pronotum about half as long as wide across humeral angles (23 : 47).

An account is given of Diconocoris hewetti (Dist.), a sporadic pest of pepper in Sarawak. Most of the observations were made during a single outbreak in 1964. The egg and the five nymphal stages are described. The life cycle is completed in about 30 days at 27 ± 1°C., 80 ± 2 per cent. R.H. and the duration of individual stages is as follows: egg, at least ten days; first instar, four days; second instar, three days; third instar, three days; fourth instar, four days; fifth instar, five days; adults in laboratory cultures lived, on average, for 27 days.

Eggs are laid singly in the flowering inflorescences, and nymphs do not generally move far from their hatching sites during nymphal life. Both nymphs and adults feed on the inflorescences and infestation is particularly heavy on those spikes in which fertilisation of the flowers has ocurred but where the developing fruits do not yet exceed 1 or 2 mm. in diameter.

A survey of 60 holdings in the Kuching area showed that numbers of Tingids are very low during non-outbreak periods, only 0.4 individuals per vine (adults and late nymphal instars) being obtained during the flowering season. Numbers deceased to 0.03 insects per vine during the fruiting period. In the outbreak studied, numbers per vine varied from 3 to 10, a ten- to one hundred-fold increase over the normal levels; these figures are relative estimates only as there was no satisfactory method of estimating absolute densities in the time available.

It is suggested that serious outbreaks of Diconocoris may be due to exceptional prolongation of the flowering period of pepper vines in a district, due to cultural practices or climatic factors.

Yield losses due to Tingids in the area studied were estimated at about 30 per cent. Diconocoris can be satisfactorily controlled with sprays of various insecticides including BHC, DDT, malathion, carbaryl (Sevin) and nicotine.

Methods of approach to the control of I. ricinus by acaricidal action are outlined, and the type of acaricide for the control of ticks on dairy stock is discussed.

Dairy cattle were treated against ticks. Arsenic and carbolic washes were avoided for specified causes. The results of using (i) derris (5·5 per cent, rotenone), (ii) 0·5 per cent. DDT, (iii) DDT in a mixture with pyrethrum, talc or kaolin base, and (iv) pyrethrum (0·9 per cent. pyrethrins I and II) in aqueous solution show that (i) had a greater residual toxicity when applied to cattle, (ii) produced erratic results, which at present do not permit of specific recommendations. When DDT is employed in conjunction with pyrethrum as a powder (iii) the effective duration is low, and this is true also of pyrethrum as an aqueous wash (iv).

The Spinach Stem Fly Hylemyia echinata (Séguy), is an important pest of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) grown in the east and south-east of England for canning and freezing. Attack by the larvae results in the blackening and distortion of terminal shoots and the splitting and discoloration of petioles and mid-ribs, and some larvae may be present in the crops when they are harvested.

The eggs are laid in May on the upper surfaces of the leaves and among the leaflets of the terminal and axillary buds. The larvae penetrate the epidermis and tunnel through the mesophyll until they reach mid-ribs, petioles or stems where they feed on the hollow inner surfaces. The puparia are usually found in the soil but may occur in the feeding sites. The second generation emerges in June and July, and further emergences occur in August and September. Larvae are present in the crops from May to October.

Eggs and larvae are described and illustrated so that they can be distinguished from those of the Mangold Fly, Pegomyia betae (Curt.), which are often present on spinach at the same time. The flies are described and the characters which distinguish them from the Bean Seed Flies, Delia cilicrura (Rond.), are noted.

Coelalysia glossinophaga, sp. nov.

♀ Testacea; capite nigro; mandibulis fusco-ferrugineis; scapo fusco; flagello nigro, articulis 40, articulis 15–28 albis; tarsis articulo apicali fusco; terebra, abdomine paullo longiore, nigra; alis hyalinis, iridescentibus, venis nigris.

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.

During a recent dry spell in the Brisbane area the canal situated at Nundah, known as Schultz's, had become silted, and various aquatic and other weeds had taken possession of the bed. Owing to pollution from a sewer, produced higher up, Culex fatigans, as is usual on such occasions, was breeding amongst the aquatic vegetation consisting mainly of Eichhornia speciosa (Water Hyacinth), Hydrilla verticillata (Water Thyme) and Jussiaea repens (Yellow Primrose). The large quantities of Characeae, usually so abundant in this canal during wet tunes, had completely disappeared.

Characters are given whereby the gall midges attacking St. John's Wort (Hypericum), a noxious weed, may be distinguished.

Four species, Dasyneura hyperici (Bremi), D. serotina (Winnertz), Macrolabis marteli Kieffer and Zeuxidiplosis giardi (Kieffer), inhabit leaf galls in Europe.

One species, Dasyneura toweri Felt, inhabits the flowers in the U.S.A. Three species, Contarinia hyperici, sp. n., Clinodiplosis hyperici, sp. n. and Lestodiplosis (Coprodiplosis) sp., live in the unopened flowers in Europe.

Two species, Lasioptera virginica Felt and Cecidomyia ? triadenii Beutenmüller, are recorded as attacking the stems in the U.S.A. The latter is a name given merely to a gall.

Four species, Geocrypta braueri (Handlirsch), G. hypericina (Tavares) (perhaps a synonym of G. braueri), Trisopsis hyperici Tavares and Lestodiplosis (Coprodiplosis) hyperici (Tavares), live in underground galls in Europe.

Descriptions of Contarinia hyperici, sp. n. and Clinodiplosis hyperici, sp. n. are given.

Blow-flies and house-flies (grouped in the Dipterous family MUSCIDAE in the older sense, including CALLIPHORIDAE) are outstandingly abundant throughout New Zealand. The influence of these insects upon the health of man and domestic animals is well known. Though this work deals with the MUSCIDAE as a whole under local conditions, its main object is to record investigations upon the blow-flies with special reference to the depredations of their maggots upon New Zealand sheep.

The first species to be dealt with was received from M. Prosper Bovien, of the Statens Plantepatologiske, Forsøg, Lyngby, in October 1927. It was reared from larvae and pupae found abundantly among seed of radish (Raphanus sativum) that had been in storage for months, and it was thought that the larvae were preying on the mites (Aleurobius, etc.) which attack the seed. In a later letter it was stated that some years previously the midges were observed emerging in January from seed in which there were no Aleurobius but numerous Cheyletus. The midge occurs at irregular intervals in seed from Denmark, as well as in seed from Germany.