An apparatus for determining the relative toxicities of contact insecticides is described in detail. It is so arranged that successive batches of insects are sprayed under conditions as similar as possible, so that on using various substances at different concentrations, the results are directly comparable.

The apparatus consists of a glass jar in the lid of which an atomiser is fixed. By means of compressed air at known pressure the atomiser throws a constant quantity of fine spray upon insects placed in a dish inside the jar. Photographs illustrating the details of the apparatus are given.

The method used in practice for the spraying of aphides in this apparatus is described, and examples are given in the form of a table and a graph of the type of results obtained when different concentrations of nicotine are sprayed upon apterous agamic females of A. rumicis.

In two previous papers (Bull. Ent. Res. xii, p. 263, 1921 and Ind. JI. Med. Res. x, pp. 249 and 430, 1922) the writer has published revisions of the mosquitos of the Palaearctic and Oriental regions, using for the classification of the genera certain small characters, chiefly in the thoracic chaetotaxy, which are applicable a like to both sexes. In the present revision of the Australasian species the same characters are applied.

Puparium of ♀ dark-greyish ochraceous, narrow in front, broadening moderately posteriorly, straight or slightly curved.

The intersting collection of Culicine mosquitos on which these notes are based was made during 1922 by Dr. H. P. Hacker, of the Malaria Bureau, Kuala Lumpur, Federated Malay States. Most of the material was obtained during an expedition to Cameron's Highlands, on the main range near Tapah, in September. A small amount of additional material from Ulu Gombak also yielded some specimens of interest.

Members of the genus Leptocorisa have long been known in the East as serious pests of rice. A great deal of confusion, however, has existed between the various species, and in many cases there has been considerable uncertainty as to the identity of the insect responsible for damage in any given locality. L. varicornis, F., and L. acuta, Thunb., in particular, have been constantly confused. Leopoldo Uichanco, for example, expressed some doubt as to the determination of the species described by him in his paper on the Philippine rice bug (Philippine Agric. Review, xiv, 1921, pp. 87–125). This confusion was due, no doubt, not only to the general similarity of the two species and the briefness of the original descriptions, but also to the existence of other closely allied species.

The writer was able to make a field and laboratory study of Leucoptera coffeella, Guér. (white coffee-leaf miner) when serving as Entomologist in Kenya Colony.

During the months of January to April, 1923, a study was undertaken of the hibernation of Anopheline mosquitos in Palestine. Previous experience indicated that the activity of these mosquitos was greatly redused during the winter months. It remained, however, to determine whether this inactivity was relative or absolute, that is, whether it was due to real hibernation or only to either retarded development of the immature stages or inhibited activity of the adults. Such information is, of course, of first importance in any attempt at intelligent control of malaria.

The ambrosia-beetles of Ceylon comprise a number of genera of Scolytidae and Platypodidae. It is proposed only to deal with beetles belonging to the former family which are included in the subfamily Cryphalinae, adding a few notes on the Platypodids.

This new species of Aëdes (Stegomyia) was discovered while I was conducting a malaria and anti-Anopheline survey in Mauritius for the Colonial Office during 1922–1923.

My breeding experiments on Locusta migratoria, L., in 1913−14 enabled me to establish that the progeny of this species sometimes belongs to the form which was previously regarded as a distinct species, L. danica, L., and in the same way, the latter insect may give rise to progeny that is typical of L. migratoria. These results have been used by B. P. Uvarov in developing his theory that the periodicity of locusts is due to a kind of irregular alternation of two phases, swarming (ph. migratoria) and solitary (ph. danica), respectively. I shall not dwell here on that theory or on the differences between the two phases, referring those interested in the subject to Uvarov's paper, but will describe further breeding experiments conducted during the year 1923 with a view to obtaining an idea as to what may be the factors that cause the variation in the species.

At the suggestion of Professor G.F. Ferris, of the Department of Entomology of Stanford University, I have undertaken the following review of this extremely important, equally interesting, and almost equally neglected group of the Coccidae. My acknowledgements are due to Professor Ferris for his aid in the preparation of the paper and of the material upon which it is based. To my fellow-students, Mr. Bryan Duncan, Mr. Carl Duncan, Mr. W.H. Irwin and Mr. P. N. Annand, I desire to extend my thanks for their aid in testing the included keys.

The results of the investigation may be summarised as follows: Two species of Glossina were encountered in the neighbourhood of Accra, namely, G.palpalis, R.-D., and G. longipalpis, Wied. They were found all along the range of hills to the west and north of the Accra plain, and extending thence a little way on to the plain, G. longipalpis spreading rather farther than G. palpalis. The greater part of the plain was found to be free from tsetse-flies and unsuitable for them. In the town of Accra itself no tsetse-flies were found, and although it is well known that occasional specimens reach it (probably being transported thither by motor vehicles and railway trains), no evidence was obtained that they had established themselves there or would be able to do so under existing conditions.

The present paper is a part of the results of my revisional work on the group Cyrtacanthacrini, which includes all the swarming locusts except Locusta migratoria (L.), the latter having formed the subject of a previous paper. The revision itself, being of a purely systematic character and dealing also with a large number of species of no economic interest, is being published elsewhere, but I thought it might be useful to economic entomologists to give here the principal conclusions arrived at concerning the species of known agricultural importance, especially because this presents an opportunity of discussing some important points in the bionomics of swarming locusts which would be out of place in the revision itself.

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.

These notes record some observations that were made during the anti-malarial campaign carried out by the British Army at Cimino, Taranto.

Through the courtesy of Dr. G. A. K. Marshall, F.R.S., I have had the opportunity of examining the new beetle, a description of which is given below. It was sent by Dr. G. Bondar to Dr. Marshall as occurring in Brazil on Elaeis guineensis. This plant, the African oil palm, is a native of tropical Western Africa, where it has a wide geographical distribution from the Gulf of Guinea to the South of Fernando Po. It flourishes in the Island of Zanzibar and along the shores of the Central African lakes, and has been introduced into the Philippine Islands, the West Indies and South America.

General colour (in spirit) green with dark brown barring on abdomen. Antennae from the apical half of iv. to tip dark brown to black, basal segments pale brown. Head pale green, except for a black depression between the base of the lateral ocellar elevation and the median line; genal cones medium brown; lateral ocelli pink. Pronotum of the same uniform colour except for a small black area marginally. Dorsulum pale green, with two large semicircular or subtriangular light brown areas medianly anteriorly; mesonotum striated with light brown, one median narrow stripe and two broad lateral ones; mesoscutellum unicolorous or faintly tinged with brown. Legs with the femora darker than tibiae, tarsi and claws black. Abdomen with two median black areas on first segment, with a lateral hollow black.

Through the kindness of Dr. G. A. K. Marshall, of the Imperial Bureau of Entomology, and Mr. F. W. Edwards, of the British Museum, we have been enabled to examine the two small but interesting collections of African Ceratopogoninae which form the basis of this paper. We have attempted to determine or describe the majority of the specimens, but those belonging to the genus Forcipomyia we hope to deal with at some future time. Several species were represented by single or but few specimens, some of them damaged; further material is therefore much to be desired not only to confirm and complete the descriptions given, but also to determine the ranges of variation.

Castaneous-brown, more or less spherical, sparsely covered with long slender hairs. Potashed specimens show the dorsum with very long slender hairs interspersed with hairs about one-fifth as long; marginal fringe consisting of an outer row of strong spines slightly serrated on margin towards tip, on strong squarish bases, and an inner row of similar spines but only about half the length of those of the outer row; scattered at intervals are long slender spines similar to those on the dorsum together with several of the smaller and more slender. Venter with scattered very short, sharp spines. Antennae composed of 4 segments, third segment twice the length of the second and apparently composed of two fused together, the last segment about three-fourths the length of the preceding. Posterior valve of the anal operculum distinctly but loosely reticulated, anterior valve with long stout setae.