This paper reports the data for the uncommon Anopheles spp. from 24-h man-baited catches mainly in the Semliki Forest, Uganda, but also from the Zika and Mpanga Forests Anopheles (Cellia) nili (Theo.), A. (C.) marshallii (Theo.), A. (C.) demeilloni Evans, A. (C.) squamosus Theo., A. (A.) coustani Lav. s. str. and A. (A.) tenebrosus (Dön.) were rarely caught. A. (A.) obscurus (Grünb.), A. (C.) moucheti Evans and A. (C.) keniensis Evans were also scarce, but the numbers did indicate nocturnal and ground-haunting habits. Comparison of catches of the less uncommon species (A. (A.) ziemanni Grünb., A. (A.) paludis Theo., A. (A.) implexus (Theo.), A. (C.) funestus Giles, A. (C.) hargreavesi Evans and A. (C.) pharoensis Theo.) with those obtained by other workers showed them to be primarily ground haunting and nocturnal but with wide variation in their temporal distribution patterns.

The effect of host movement on multiple feeding by Aedes aegypti (L.) was observed in a laboratory experiment and the value of techniques developed to measure multiple meals was assessed. Multiple feeding on the arms of two human volunteers was significantly increased when both hosts moved their arms. If only one host was moving, a slight increase in multiple feeds over the level obtained with no movement was noted, although in such cases the majority of meals were taken from the stationary host. Statistical analyses of the results showed that the association between host movement and multiple feeding was highly significant.

Experiments were carried out to determine whether Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) was attracted to water on a wick suspended in an arena. When insects were preconditioned at 25, 50, 75 or 100% RH, they were attracted to the water source. Those preconditioned at 50% RH gave the greatest response and those preconditioned at 100% RH, the least. Measurement of the humidity changes in the arena caused by adding a wick containing 5 Μ1 of water showed that the gradient between the edge and centre was steepest at the start of an experiment when insect activity was also greatest. About 30 min after a wick had been placed in the arena, virtually all the water (about 94%) had evaporated, the humidity had equalised over the arena and the insects were no longer attracted to the wick. This behavioural response is discussed in relation to the insects' environment.

The importance of finding the effect of defoliation on the reproductive capacity of Cordia macrostachya is explained in view of the proposed introduction of two species of leaf-eating beetles from Trinidad into Mauritius for the control of this weed.

An account is given of experiments in which the production of inflorescences and fruits was compared in defoliated and control plants.

The results show that defoliation has a significant effect in reducing the reproductive capacity of the plant.

Africanized honeybees are presently expanding their geographic range within the USA and are considered undesirable due to their substantial defensive behaviour. Africanized honeybees can be differentiated from honeybees of European ancestry using discriminant analysis of morphological characters, based on a minimum of ten intact specimens per colony. In this paper we report a PCR-based method suitable for the identification of African or European mtDNA from sting remnants, such as typically remain on victims following a stinging incident. We experimentally simulated collection and shipment conditions with dried and alcohol preservation of stings, and also report that the method was suitable for sting remnants stored with a victim sample for over one year in alcohol. The determination of mtDNA haplotypes from stinger remnants must be tempered by the constraints inherent in interpretation of mtDNA haplotype data. Such data do not provide any information regarding the genetic contribution of the paternal lineage. However, in geographic areas where baseline information regarding European haplotype frequencies is known, the detection of a different mtDNA haplotype in stingers from a victim, especially when associated with observations of extreme defensive behaviour, would certainly be suggestive of Africanization.

Following the discovery of Lydella jaliscosp. n. (from Jalisco, Mexico), a parasite of the Mexican rice borer, Eoreuma loftini (Dyar) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the limits of the genus Lydella Robineau-Desvoidy have been widened to include Diatraeophaga Townsend syn. n., Metoposisyrops Townsend syn. n., and Metagonistylum Townsend syn. n. All species regarded as belonging to Lydella are listed, with L. minense (Townsend) comb. n., L. oryzae (Townsend) comb. n., L. scirpophagae (Chao & Shi) comb. n., L. sesamiae (Mesnil) comb. n., and L. striatalis (Townsend) comb. n.

This paper deals with seven Indian species and one African variety belonging to the subfamilies Spathiinae and Doryctinae. Four of the species are important parasites of the cotton stem weevil, Pempheres affinis, Fst., and are described as new in compliance with an urgent request for their names.

A species of Dioryctria reared from Pinus kesiya (= khasya) at Shillong, Assam, where it is found in association with D. abietella (Schiff.) and D. sylvestrella (Ratz.), is described as new and is named D. castanea sp.n. The distinctive purplish or reddish chestnut brown coloration of the forewings is considered to distinguish this species from others in the genus. Illustrations are given of the adult and of the male and female genitalia.

Three egg parasites, Sozites kerichoensis Kerrich (Ichneumonidae), Oligositoides semicinctium De Santis (Trichogrammatidae), and Platystasius benjamini Nixon (Scelionidae) were reared from egg-masses of two closely related Entypotrachelus species indigenous in the tropical rain forest of Kenya. E. meyeri Kolbe occurs west of the Rift Valley, and E. micans Hust. occurs in the foot-hills south and west of Mt. Kenya, east of the Rift Valley. When the forests are cleared, both species transfer from forest trees, weeds and shrubs to newly planted tea and Cinchona spp. where the larvae feed on the roots and the adults feed and oviposit on the leaves.

The object of the present paper is to place on record a number of observations made by the writer in the Ibadan district of Southern Nigeria in the years 1922 to 1925, in the hope that they may be of some interest to other workers in Africa.

The writer wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr. G. A. K. Marshall and the specialists of the Department of Entomology in the British Museum for identifying the insects mentioned, and to Dr. A. W. Hill, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, for determining the majority of the plants.

The black-headed palm caterpillar (Nephantis serinopa, Meyr.) has been known to be a serious pest of coconut palms both in Ceylon and South India for many years past, and during the past ten years its appearance on a serious scale along the Malabar coast in South India has been attracting the attention of the Entomological Section of the Madras Agricultural Department. Among the different methods of control, the utilisation of the natural enemies of the pest has been tried to some extent. One of the more important natural enemies found to exert some appreciable influence on this pest was a Eulophid wasp, Trichospilus pupivora, Ferr. As one of the officers of the Entomological Section engaged in the work connected with this coconut pest, the author had opportunities of closely studying this parasite, and in this paper a brief account is attempted of the bionomics of this insect and of some methods employed in breeding it on a large scale.

Very little is known about the African DELPHACIDAE, especially the tropical forms. For this reason it is worth recording the few species represented in a small collection made by Mr. J. C. Bridwell at Oloke-Meji, Ibadan, Nigeria, in 1914. All the specimens were swept from grasses and reeds. It isto be hoped that larger collections will soon be available and that those who work at them will examine and give figures or adequate descriptions of the genitalia, especially of the aedeagus. Owing to the wide distribution ofsome species and the great difference in colour of other species, and the paucity of good specific distinctions in the chroötic characters, it isalmost impossible to identify many species of the Delphacides group without making use of the phallic characters.

Tomaspis saccharina, Dist., is a Cercopid bug which infests the cane-fields of Trinidad in vast numbers during the wet months of the year. Corresponding with the successive generations, there are three, and sometimes four nights or broods of adults, each of which causes severe damage to the cane. This damage, or “ froghopper blight,” as it is locally called, is a result of the feeding activities of the adult on the foliage, and is characterised by a progressive discoloration of the leaves, leading to death of the affected leaf and, in severe cases, to the death of the cane. In either event, growth of the plant is more or less severely checked and the adverse effect on yield is usually of a very significant nature.

1. Disappearance of Simulium neavei after DDT-treatment of rivers in Kodera, Kenya, is still manifest after seven years, and the species seems to have been eradicated from the district.

2. Skin microfilaria rates have dropped from something under 7 per cent. to nil in the under 4 years age group; from 37 to 5 per cent. or less in the 4–8 years; and from 70 per cent. to 50 per cent. in adults.

3. The length of life of the adult worm can be at least seven years.

Experiments were carried out to study the possibilities of using ground or crop interference with the spray laden slip-stream of a helicopter flying slowly in the ground cushion to obtain a high dynamic catch of spray droplets. Experiments were carried out in 1945 and 1946 with a Sikorski type Y.R.4.B. helicopter and experimental spraying gear designed for the purpose.

The forward portion of the slip-stream annulus was explored by means of spraybars placed in three different positions. The position in the sector between angles of 15° and 45° with the direction of forward flying was found to give the best all-round cover and was the position in which the spray deposit was less influenced by alterations in the control-surfaces of the helicopter.

To obtain a fairly wide swathe of approximately 70 ft., the equivalent of two rotor diameters, the forward speed of 6–8 m.p.h. was found to be optimal, and it was observed that not only was good cover of the upper surfaces of the leaves obtained but the spray-laden slip-stream also gave a good cover of the vertical surfaces of the plants outside the rotary periphery and, in certain boom positions, descended and in rebounding produced a cover of the lower surfaces.

In order to obtain maximum dynamic catch and a good cover of the lower surfaces of leaves, spray-bars must not be more than 6 ft. above ground.

Helicopter spraying is wind dependent and in wind velocities above 12 m.p.h. uniform cover of spray deposit does not appear to be feasible.

The performance of the flattened out slip-stream and rebound depends on the type of crop, and as this affects the dynamic catch to a considerable degree, this phenomenon will be the subject of a special investigation.

The forward portion of the slip-stream was found to give a more even spray deposit than the aft portion because in the latter case vortices are caused by the rotor blades which affect the spray deposit.

In view of its limitations as regards speed and dependence on wind velocity, economic application of spray chemicals by helicopter at a degree of efficiency and workmanship equal to that of ground machines is only possible with a heavy load-carrying helicopter. A specification for such a machine has been issued to the manufacturers of rotory wing aircraft.

It is hoped that this report will be followed by a report on the performance data of the new spraying apparatus designed for the Sikorski S.51 which is based on the results of these investigations.

The figitid Ganaspis pelleranoi and the braconid Doryctobracon areolatus (Hym: Braconidae, Opiinae) are wide-ranging (from Florida, USA to Argentina) fruit fly parasitoids with tropical and subtropical distribution with a wet and temperate climate. In Argentina, both parasitoid species are thought to be restricted to the subtropical rainforests of the northwest and northeast, locally known as ‘Yungas’ and ‘Paranaense’ forests, respectively. However, these species recently have been recorded at the Monte and Thistle of the Prepuna eco-region, an arid region of central-western Argentina. Despite the extreme environmental conditions, anthropic artificial irrigation seems to be playing a fundamental role in fostering the presence and persistence of these species. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) models were developed to assess the suitability of these areas to harbor both species. The present work is a first approach to identify suitable areas for the distribution of these two fruit fly biological control agents in the American continent; based on 19 bioclimatic variables. Furthermore, the models resulting from including the new records in the ‘Monte’ eco-region suggest that local populations may become adapted to particular micro-environmental conditions generated by artificial irrigation. Models revealed that these artificial oases are suitable for G. pelleranoi but seem to be unsuitable for D. areolatus. This first and new approach to the area suitability of these species invites to produce models that reflect actual distribution including more records of presence in oases with similar conditions, thus decreasing the bias of the model generated by over reliance on areas with higher humidity (forest), which correspond to the distribution known before the inclusion of the new records.

The galls induced on Tamarix spp. in Pakistan by six species of Psectrosema are described, and the known host ranges and geographical distributions of these species are given, together with information on seasonal biology and adult behaviour based on field surveys and laboratory observations. Parasitic Hymenoptera and other insects associated with the galls are listed.

Both Culex decens and Culex invidiosus are widely distributed in British West Africa. In the Gold Coast both have been taken in all the three divisions into which the country is divided, namely, the Colony proper, Ashanti and the Northern Territories; the records at Accra showing the following distribution: —