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NOTES ON SOME BLOOD-SUCKING AND OTHER ARTHROPODS (EXCEPT CULICIDAE) COLLECTED IN MACEDONIA IN 1917.

By JAMES WATERSTON, Lieut. R.A.M.C., Entomologist to the Malaria Commission, Salonika.

In the course of the operations for controlling mosquitos on the Macedonian front some time, necessarily limited, was devoted to collecting parasitic or noxious arthropods, and a list is here given, more particularly of those affecting man. One or two other noteworthy species are also recorded. ANOPLURA. Trichodectes subrostratus, N. Very plentiful on a kitten, Kalamaria, 8, xii. Pediculus capitis, De G., P. humanus, L., and Phthirus pubis, L. All occur. The last not commonly met with. Polyplax spinulosa, Burm. Several on a young rat, Kalamaria. RHYNCHOTA. Geocoris albipennis, F. Twice, at widely separated places, I was bitten by individuals of this species. Fortunately, on the second occasion the insect was secured without damage. Lahana, ix. Cimex lectularius, L. One of the pests of Macedonia ; only too common in wooden huts. This species drops on one's bed from roofs, unless prevented by mosquito netting. DIPTERA. Phlebotomus papatasii, Scop. Common at Kalamaria round electric lamps in huts, and also at Karasouli and Cidemli; on the Struma at Sakavca, etc. Phlebotomus perniciosus, Ann. 5 c? 14 $, Karasouli and Kalamaria, viii. Simulium sp. In hill streams near Lahana, Paprat and Oreovica larvae of one or more species of this genus were obtained, but attempts to rear the imago were unsuccessful. Pangonia marginata, F. $ (Capt. A. G. Carment). Pangonia sp. cJ, $, near variegata, F., but possibly representing two distinct species (Capt. Treadgold). Chrysops coecutiens, L. 2 $, near Salonika, vii. Chrysops italica, Mg. $, Mikra, Experimental Farm, on donkey, vii. 154 JAMES WATERSTON.

Chrysops perspicillaris, Lw. §, near Salonika, vii. Taken also by Capt. Garment. Chrysops quadrata, Mg. $, Karasouli, vii.; 2 $, Mikra, Experimental Farm, on donkey, vii. Tabanus ater, Rossi. 2 $ (Capt. Treadgold). Tabanus autumnalis, L. $, Mikra, Experimental Farm, on donkey, vii. Tabanus bovinus, L. $, near Salonika, vii-viii. Taken also by Captains Carment and Treadgold. Tabanus glaucopis, Mg. $, Karasouli, vii. ; 2 $, Lahana, viii. This species frequently sheltered on the inside of our tents during the heat of the day. Tabanus graecus, F. $ (Capt. Treadgold). Gastrophilus equi, L. 2 $ captured and others observed on pony, Lahana (Capt. Boyle). Stomoxys calcitrans, L. In latrines at Lahana and Karasouli. Also not uncommon in horse and mule lines, e.g., near the beach at Kalamaria. Morellia hortorum, Fall. 2 §, off donkey, Mikra. Mr. Collin notes that these examples differ from typical M. hortorum in having the dorso-central bristles immediately behind the thoracic suture shorter and weaker than the others. Musca sp. $$, off donkey, Mikra. This undetermined species, which comes close to M. lusoria, Wd., occurred in numbers. Like the Morellia, it fed on the animal's festering sores and at wounds made by Tabanus, whenever the latter flew off. While a Tabanus was feeding the Musca would take up their position an inch or so below the puncture and drink up the blood that ran down. Musca vitripennis, Mg. flies proved extremely troublesome in one area. Owing to the heat, presumably, they drank freely a 5 per cent, mixture of formalin and water, with a little sugar added. Large numbers were killed in this way, and multitudes more were accounted for by burning, swatting, trapping (both balloon and the Japanese revolving traps were used), and spraying. For the latter purpose I found that an aqueous solution of formalin 5 per cent, was in use. This certainly killed the flies, but a good deal of fluid was required, since all the flies touched were not properly wetted, and those that were knocked down crawled about for some time. For the formalin mixture the following emulsion was substituted :—^ lb. bar soap boiled till dissolved in £ gallon of water ; when dissolved, \ gallon of paraffin was slowly added, and \ pint of mixed ketones NOTES ON SOME BLOOD-SUCKING ARTHROPODS. 155 incorporated in the same way. This mixture was quite effective, but the ketones smelt rather strongly and discoloured clean wood-surfaces. Later a second formula was tried : J lb. soap, £ gal. water and 1 gal. paraffin. Used pure, this killed almost instantaneously, and not a fly touched escaped. Subsequently, the same emulsion, diluted to half strength, was used and worked excellently, although the flies crawled about sometimes for a minute after being knocked down. None, however, were seen to recover. The use of an emulsion was indicated because of the danger of fire had pure oil been sprayed. The formula, I may add, was purely empirical, and my only object in recording these facts now is to suggest that it may be worth while to investigate the constitution of a suitable emulsion spray for flies, and particularly to ascertain what should be the minimum oil content of such a mixture. A little clean boiling water should be passed through the nozzle of the sprayer after use, to obviate clogging with dried emulsion. Lucilia sericata, Mg. Abundant. Reared also from larvae found in carrion on the Struma. This species formed a considerable part of the daily catch in fly traps. Hippobosca capensis, Olf. $, Lahana, off mule, ix Hippobosca equina, L. §, Kalamaria, vii; $, Lahana, ix, off mule. Not uncommon in horse and mule lines. Taken also by Capt. Carment. \Olfersia ardeae, Macq. A number of specimens of what I believe to be this species were observed on a young Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) shot on the Giol Ajak about two miles from the top of Lake Ardzan. These flies were extremely active and all evaded capture.] Ornitheza ?metallica, Schin. $, on partridge (Perdix perdix), Lahana, ix.

SlPHONAPTERA. Pulex irritans, L. Kalamaria, Salonika, etc., on dogs. [Xenopsylla cheopis, Rothsch. Dr. Jolly informs me that this species has been identified in Paris from examples which he has forwarded from plague-stricken rats dying in Salonika.] Ctenocephalus felis, Bouche. Kalamaria, on dogs. ACARINA. Laelaps echidninus, Berl. 9, on young rat, Kalamaria. Idponyssus saurarum, Oud. A dozen from under the throat-scales of Green Lizard, Lahana, 27.viii. For assistance in determining the above-mentioned species I am indebted to the following friends:—Messrs. J. E. Collin, S. Hirst, G. A. K. Marshall, and R. Newstead.

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