2. Methods, Apparatus, Population Statistics and Taxonomic Studies of Use to EcologistsJournal of Animal Ecology, Vol. 29, No. 2 (Nov., 1960), pp. 418-420Published by: British Ecological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2224 .

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418 A bstracts Wallace, H. R. (1959). Movement of eelworms. V. Observations on Aphelenchoides

ritzeina-bosi (Schwartz, 1912) Steiner, 1932 on florists' chrysanthemums. Ann. Appi. Biol. 47, 350-360.

Nematode activity on chrysanthemums in relation to the presence of water films. Leaves were observed to be invaded via the stomata, and activity within the plant is also considered.

Way, M. J. (1959). The effect of temperature, particularly during diapause, on the development of the egg of Leptohylemyia coarctata Fallen (Diptera: Muscidae). Trans. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. 111, 351-364.

Details lower and upper limits for the different stages of development. The optimum con- stant temperature for diapause development in 3? C and the egg can develop through all stages at an optimum of about 7? C. It is suggested that the temperature optimum for diapause may vary as development proceeds.

Zaher, M. A. & Long, D. B. (1959). Some effects of larval population density on the biology of Pieris brassicae L. and Plusia gamma. L. Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. (A), 31, 97-109.

The abnormal condition of experimental crowding of P. gamma shortens the larval dura- tion, prolongs the pupal period, reduces the preoviposition period and increases the numbers of eggs laid. In P. brassicae the abnormal condition of isolation prolongs the larval and pupal periods, shortens the pre-oviposition period but increases the number of eggs laid.

It is suggested that these dependent series of effects constitute a compensatory response to abnormal population densities.

Zahar, M. A. & Moussa, M. A. (1959). Relationship between larval and pupal periods of some lepidopterous insects. Nature, Lond. 184, 288.

Parallel cultures of Plusia gamma and Prodenia litura were maintained in solitary and crowded conditions. A negative relationship exists between the durations of larval and pupal periods. Also, the larval period was longer in solitary culture.

2. METHODS, APPARATUS, POPULATION STATISTICS AND TAXONOMIC STUDIES OF USE TO ECOLOGISTS

Bailey, R. (1960). Description of the female of Meraporus tenuicornis Graham and its habitat, with a brief redescription of M. graminicola Walker (Hym. Pteromalidae). Entomologist, 40-43.

Larvae of M. tenuicornis, the female of which was hitherto unknown, were found in small swellings on the stem internodes and leaf sheaths of Agropyron repens, where they are parasitic on Tetramesia linearis and its parasite, Eurytoma fiavimana. Of 98 galls on 20 stems found in Lancashire, 60 contained T. linearis, 28 E. fiavimana and 10 M. tenuicornis; of the last, six were females. In Leicestershire, 2 of 167 galls contained M. tenuicornis, both females

Brinkhurst, R. 0. (1959). A description of the nymphs of British Gerris species (Hemiptera-Heteroptera). Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. (A), 34, 130-136.

Includes a key to the fourth and fifth instar nymphs of the nine British species.

China, W. E. & Miller, N. C. E. (1959). Check-list and keys to the families and sub- families of the Hemiptera-Heteroptera. Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Ent.), 8, (1) 1-45.

Covers British families and sub-families.

Clay, T. (1959). Key to the species of Austromenopon Bedford (Mallophaga) parasitic on the Charadriiformes. Proc. R. Ent. Soc. Lond. (B), 28, 157-168.

Eales, N. B. (1960). Revision of the world species of Aplysia (Gastropoda, Opistho- branchia). Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.), 5 (10), 267-404.

Includes descriptions of, and notes on A. (Pruvotaplysia) punctata, the only truly indi- genous British species and two occasionals, A. (Varria) fasciata and A. (A.) depilans.

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Methods, etc. 419 Goodwin, D. (1959). Taxonomy of the genus Columba. Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist.

(Zool.), 6 (1), 1-23. Fifty species, three of which are British, are grouped mainly by basic colour pattern and

geographical distribution.

Lewis, T. (1960). A method for collecting Thysanoptera from Gramineae. Entomologist, 93, 27-28.

Tillers are put into a lampglass with a polythene funnel dipping into a collecting tube containing water and a drop of detergent sealed into the narrow end and a wire basket containing cotton wool soaked in turpentine sealed to the inside of the lid. Thrips fall into the collecting tube within 30 minutes. The method was equally successful for adults of both sexes, but less so for the immature stages, especially the third and fourth instars. It appeared satisfactory for Limothrips cerealiumz, Chirothrips manicatus and Stenothrips graminum in various cereals and grasses.

McDonald, W. A. (1960). Nocturnal detection of tsetse flies in Nigeria with ultra-violet light. Nature, Lond. 185, 867-868.

An apparatus is described which refines the technique of locating tsetse flies marked with fluorescent paint. Its principal advantage lies in its portability.

Milne, A., Yapp, W. B. & Varley, G. C. (1959). A controversial equation in population ecology. Nature, Loud. 184, 1582-1583.

A continuation of the discussion of Nicholson's equation. Milne criticises Nicholson's theory of population control and particularly the equation. He holds that it merely shows the maximum possible population density possible with an amount of requisite which has been determined by its rate of generation and its rate of loss. Yapp points out that only rarely is there available a discrete food supply which is not added to during the life of the popula- tion, thus the use of the equation purporting to represent the conditions necessary for equilibrium is invalid. Varley replies to the criticisms.

Paramonov, A. (1959). A possible method of estimating larval numbers in tree crowns. Ent. Mon. Mag. 95, 82-83.

The method has given promising results in estimating larval numbers in tree crown populations, especially with the early instars of Bupalus pinniarius. Head capsules, which fall on ecdysis, were collected in standard metal funnels, with replaceable muslin bags attached to the neck, supported in frames three feet from the ground.

Parrish, B. B., Baxter, I. G. & Mowat, M. J. D. (1960). An automatic fish egg counter. Nature, Lond. 185, 777.

An apparatus is described which facilitates investigations into the fecundity of fish. It enables rapid counts to be made and eliminates the tedium of hand counting.

Le Quesne, W. J. (1960). Some modifications in the British list of Delphacidae (Hem.), including a new genus and a new species. Entomologist, 93, 13-19, 29-35, 54-60.

This revision includes a check list of the British species, with keys and distributions for some.

Quick, H. E. (1960). British slugs (Pulmonata; Testacellidae, Arionidae, Limacidae). Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (Zool.), 6 (3), 103-226.

Notes on external appearance, internal anatomy, behaviour, ecology and distribution (with vice-county maps) of 24 native species and 2 greenhouse aliens.

Raw, F. (1959). Estimating earthworm populations by using formalin. Nature, Lond. 184, 1661-1662.

The application of formalin to light well-drained soils is discussed as a means of recovering worms and providing population estimates. The concentration of formalin applied was found to be important.

Royama, T. (1959). Test of an automatic nest-recorder. Brit. Birds, 52, 295-302. The recorder described was designed to record visits of male and female to a nest box

separately, and proved satisfactory with great tits.

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420 A bstracts Salmon, J. T. (1959). Concerning the Collembola Onychiuridae. Trans. R. Ent. Soc.

Lond. 111, 119-156. Includes a key to the sub-families and genera of the Onychiuridae.

Taylor, R. H. (1959). Age determination in wild rabbits. Nature, Lond. 184, 1158-1159. The fusion of epiphyses of vertebrae to the centra is suggested as an age criterion for older

animals.

3. PARASITES

Askew, R. R. (1959). Some observations on Diplolepis rosae (L.) (Hym., Cynipidae) and its parasites. Ent. Mon. Mag. 95, 191-192.

Hillis, J. P. & O'Riordan, C. E. (1960). Parasites of a sunfish, Mola mola, from the Irish coast. Irish Nat. J. 13, 123-124.

Two species of cestode and two of copepods.

Kabata, Z. (1957). Note on a new host of Myxobolus aeglefinis. Parasitology, 47, 165-168. Records parasitization of the cranium of Pleuroiectes platessa.

Kabata, Z. (1959). Ecology of the genus Acanthochondria Oakley (Copepoda parasitica). J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 38, 249-261.

Discusses the distribution of four species of this genus of parasitic copepod in their various hosts of flatfish.

Meerovitch, E. (1960). Thermal barrier to the infectivity of Entamoeba invadens in snakes. Nature, Lond. 185, 631.

Experiments are described which show that E. invadens cannot survive in grass snakes kept at temperatures above normal. The temperatures used were in the order of 34-37? C. A control snake maintained at 20-23? C developed typical amoebiasis about one week after inocculation.

Sharp, N. C. C. (1959). Husk-the development of a vaccine. Agriculture, 66, 241-245. Cows can be immunized against this disease, caused by Dictyocaulus viviparus, by an oral

dose of X-irradiated infective larvae which pass through the hosts gut wall, producing immunity to subsequent attacks, but are not strong enough to reach the lungs where the major damage is done.

Sidor, C. (1959). Susceptibility of larvae of the large white butterfly (Pieris brassicae L.) to two virus diseases. Ann. Appl. Biol. 47, 109-113.

Larvae of Pieris brassicae collected from Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire which were most susceptible to a natural granulosis infection were also more susceptible to a cytoplasmic polyhedral virus derived from Phatera bucephala.

4. FOOD AND FOOD HABITS

Antoine, N. J. (1959). Blue tit feeding young treecreepers. Brit. Birds, 52, 432-433. A male blue tit fed young treecreepers but not his own young nearby, both in the nest and

after fledging. He brought caterpillars, the parents moths and crane flies.

Blackett, A. (1960). Blackbird incubating and song thrush rearing combined brood. Brit. Birds, 53, 89-90.

Eggs of both species were incubated by the blackbird only, but the young were reared successfully by the song thrush alone.

Bullivant, 3. S. (1959). Stomach contents of spawning quinnat salmon. Nature, Loud. 184, 71.

Forty-three specimens were examined, 39 of which had nothing in the stomach. Three contained younger salmon, and one parts of the aquatic plant Potamogeton.

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