- L 66 -
Mr. Austen was also good enough to return named specimens for the Museum here.
Lispa Sinensis, Schiner—One set of 6 of these flies was observed in the Laboratory with reference to their behaviour to Anopheline Larvae. The observation was made as follows:—
Six adult Lispa Sinensis flies were placed in a mosquito box of about a cubic foot capacity. To this was added a tray of water containing Anopheline Larvae and Pupae and some cork float. Adult Anopheline bred out freely from this tray. Bananas were supplied to feed both the Anophelines and the Lispa. The whole was observed from time to time during each day for a period of eight days—during which time no deaths took place among the Lispa—apparently they live well on bananas. The following points were noted:—
(1) No attempt on the part of the Lispa to seize undamaged adult Anophelines was seen; on the contrary they were frequently seen feeding off the same banana with the Anopheline.
(2) The Lispa apparently spent most of their time sitting on the cork floats on the water and from time to time making darts at Larvae, pupae, or adults which had just emerged from the pupae case and were sitting on it.
(3) Though their attempts were generally unsuccessful still they did succeed from time to time in securing and killing Larvae, etc., however they did not prevent the majority of the Larvae developing successfully into adults.
I consider that they are undoubtedly predaceous on mosquito Larvae and perhaps even more so on Chironomus Larvae but I do not think their practical use is great. The place in which they are most easily found (Kennedy Town) is one of the most mosquito and malaria infected parts of Hongkong.
The amount of Larvae, etc., which the Lispa eat makes apparently no difference at all from a practical point of view.
Poisonous Fish.—3 deaths and 5 cases of serious illness followed the eating of a local fish, called Ki Po Yu by the Chinese. A sample has been sent home to England for specific determination and when a reply is received, the matter will be gone into further.
- L 66 -
Mr. Austen was also good enough to return named specimens for the Museum here.
Lispa Sinensis, Schiner-One set of 6 of these flies was observ- ed in the Laboratory with reference to their behaviour to Anopheline Larvae. The observation was made as follows:--
Six adult Lispa Sinensis flies were placed in a mosquito box of about a cubic foot capacity. To this was added a tray of water con- taining Anopheline Larvae and Pupae and some cork float. Adult Anopheline bred out freely from this tray. Bananas were supplied to feed both the Anophelines and the Lispa. The whole was observed from time to time during each day for a period of eight days-dur- ing which time no deaths took place among the Lispa-apparently they live well on bananas. The following points were noted:--
(1) No attempt on the part of the Lispa to seize undamaged adult Anophelines was seen; on the contrary they were frequently seen feeding off the same banana with the Anopheline.
(2.) The Lispa apparently spent most of their time sitting on the cork floats on the water and from time to time making darts at Larvae, pupae, or adults which had just emerged from the pupae case and were sitting on it.
(3.) Though their attempts were generally unsuccessful still they did succeed from time to time in securing and killing Larvae, etc., however they did not prevent the majority of the Larvae develop- ing successfully into adults.
I consider that they are undoubtedly predaceous on mosquito Larvae and perhaps even more so on Chironomus Larvae but I do not think their practical use is great. The place in which they are most easily found (Kennedy Town) is one of the most mosquito and malaria infected parts of Hongkong.
The amount of Larvae, etc., which the Lispa eat makes appar- ently no difference at all from a practical point of view
Poisonons Fish.-3 deaths and 5 cases of serious illness followed the eating of a local fish, called Ki Po Yu by the Chinese. A sam- ple has been sent home to England for specific determination and when a reply is received, the matter will be gone into further.
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