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| Volume 48, No. 362, February 1989

:

BRITISH MUSEUM MATURAL gE

wt toe 2G,

The Bulletin

of the Amateur Entomologists’ society

EDITOR BRIAN O. C. GARDINER, F.L.S.

The Amateur Entomologists’ Society

Founded in 1935

President: D. LONSDALE 54 Cherry Way, Alton, Hants GU34 2AX. Hon. General C. C. PENNEY 109 Waveney Drive, Springfield, Secretary: Chelmsford, Essex CM1 5QA. Hon. Treasurer: R. A. FRY The Hawthorns, Frating Road, Great Bromley, Colchester CO7 7JN. Registrar: NANCY CRIBB (Mrs) 355 Hounslow Road, Hanworth,

Feltham, Middlesex TW13 5JH.

. Bulletin Editor: B. O. C. GARDINER 2 Highfield Avenue, Cambridge CB4 2AL.

Hon. General Editor: P. W. CRIBB _ 355 Hounslow Road, Hanworth, Feitham, Middlesex TW13 5JH.

WHERE TO WRITE

First subscription (including REGISTRAR (Mrs Cribb) entrance fee) £8, or £6 under 18, Address as listed above. — changes of address, non-arrival of Bulletins, membership applications

and records.

Subscription renewals NANCY CRIBB (Mrs), 355 Hounslow Road, £6 or £4 (under 18): Hanworth, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 5JH.

Manuscripts, drawings and books ES, : for review: B. O. C. GARDINER, Address as above. Advertisers: R. DYKE, 6 Grange Park Avenue, Grange Park, London N21 2LJ. Exhibition matters: R. F. McCORMICK, 125 Brocks Drive,

: North Cheam, Sutton, Surrey. . General enquiries: C. C. PENNEY, Address as above. J.C.C.B.I. Representative © :

& Editor of . D. LONSDALE, 54 Cherry Way, |

Insect Conservation News: Alton, Hants GU34 2AX.

Dr: C. BETTS, 17 Mereway Road, Twickenham, Middx. TW2 6RF.

Habitat Conservation Officer:

Wants and Exchange: - _M. COLVIN, 1 Sedgewick Close, Pound Hill, Crawley, Sussex RH10 4B2Z. A.E.S. Exotic Insects Group: C. J. ESCHBACHER, 38 Frith Road, Bognor Regis, Sussex PO21 5LL. A.E.S. Insect Behaviour and ~ B. L. WILLIAMSON, 73 Little Brays, Ants Study Group: Harlow, Essex CM18 6ES.

Advertising rates: The following charges apply to adverts in the body of the Bulletin. Full page £50; Half page £30; Quarter page £20.

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| Just published

The Dragonflies of Europe written and illustrated by R. R. Askew

In this, the first book written originally in English to be devoted to the entire European fauna, the author’s aim is to simplify the identification of dragonflies and to promote interest in them. In his Foreword, Professor P. S. Corbet, President of the British Dragonfly Society, writes that he is ‘confident this aim will be achieved’, adding that naturalists ‘will be indebted to Dr. Askew for the dedication, knowledge and artistic skill he has displayed when preparing this book’.

The text contains chapters on life history, the adult dragonfly, distribution of European dragonflies (with colour photographs of habitats), and morphology, followed by a check list, Keys and descrip- tions, with maps showing national boundaries for the 114 species found in Europe. An additional 24 species found in bordering regions are also briefly described. There follow keys to the final-instar larvae, an extensive bibliographical reference section with over 500 entries, 29 superb colour plates of adults and a comprehensive index. The text is illustrated with over 500 line-drawings.

This will undoubtedly become the standard work of reference on European Odonata. 292pp. incl. 31 col. pls 29 x 21cm clothbound ISBN 0 946589 10 0 £49.95 net (detailed colour prospectus available)

In production

Grasshoppers and allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland by Judith Marshall and Christopher Haes; illustrated by Denys Ovenden

This is the first work for very many years to cover all the orthopteroid orders comprising the bush-crickets, crickets, grasshoppers, earwigs and stick-insects. It gives full descriptions of the 52 species found in the British Isles, including the Channel Islands, and details of their life-history and behaviour, habitat and distribution, with vice-county and dot-distribution maps of records received to the end of 1987. Each species is illustrated in colour showing sexual dimorphism, colour forms and nymphs; text figures highlight diagnostic differences. This work also stresses the vital importance of habitat conservation for many of these insects which are already on the edge of their range.

The comprehensive introductory section, with contributions by specialist authors, includes chapters on nomenclature and classification; a history of the study of Orthoptera; distribution and | history of British species (D. R. Ragge); life history; song and courtship; predators, parasites and diseases; locating and collecting; rearing and culturing; sound recording (J. F. Burton); and photography (R. & C. Foord).

The systematic section contains a check list of species mentioned in the text, a comprehensive key to and detailed descriptions of the British species and an account of the casual and migrant species.

In the section on habitats (including twelve colour photographs of habitat types) is detailed information of particular value to the ecologist and conservationist. Appendices include charts of offshore island and vice-county records; outstanding sites; and a list of about 800 localities mentioned in the text, with grid reference and vice-county location. Extensive references, ten superb colour plates and an index of scientific and English names complete the book.

In his Foreword, Dr. Ragge writes that ‘this new work will fill a long-standing need’ and ‘is sure to. . . be the standard reference work for many years to come’.

approx. 240pp. incl. 12 col. pls 25 x 20cm clothbound ISBN 0 946589 13 5 £25.00 net

Already available: A Sound Guide to the Grasshoppers and allied Insects of Great Britain and Ireland ISBN 0 946589 224 = £5.75 incl. VAT

Cassette of songs (30 mins — 26 species) specially made for Harley Books by John Burton of the BBC Natural History Unit with commentary by David R. Ragge.

Order from your bookseller or direct from Harley Books, adding £2.00 per title and 50p for the cassette to cover p.&p. Complete catalogue on request.

Harley Books, Great Horkesley, Colchester, Essex CO64AH Tel: (0206) 271216

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AES BULLETIN No. 362

‘eae

EDITORIAL

It is with great pleasure that I inform members that the Bulletin is now to be published bimonthly instead of quarterly. This year, therefore, issues are scheduled for February, April, June, August, October and December. While each issue will be a little thinner than hitherto, we hope to see an increase in the total number of yearly pages and quicker publication of some items, particularly those of more immediate and topical interest. This will also mean that I will need a steady flow of articles and I would particularly welcome those of a practical nature, short notes, and more illustrative matter. While good black and white glossy prints are more suited to our medium, many of the illustrations in recent issues have been translations of colour transparencies into monochrome, something our printer makes a very good job of.

Apologies to members that the November issue arrived very late in the month, or not until December, and also for the serious error that occurred in that the second half of an article appeared (pages 215-217). A combination of factors caused both delay and misprinting. The pressman who had assembled our Bulletin for several years had left the firm: a misunderstanding arose with the new man; the realisation at a very late Stage of production that some text had gone astray: this combined with the disorganisation consequent upon my change of house.

After 25 years in the one place it takes time (years?) to re-organise elsewhere, let alone keep track of everything during the move. I may also have confused members by giving a different address (my son’s) in the last issue to where I am now: 2 Highfield Avenue, Cambridge CB4 2AL, to which all correspondence should be sent. The reason for this apparent double move was that at the time of printing the November issue I had already left my old address but not yet acquired a new one! All credit to the Post Office and mail sent to my old address is being redirected and reaching me.

2 FEBRUARY 1989

A considerable number of books are either mentioned or reviewed in our pages. Clearly more than most members would expect, or would even want to buy. Nevertheless there is often something of interest in many books, or even a brief need for the information in a particular book, which could be of use, but which would not justify the price, particularly of an expensive book. While too many books can be assessed on the shelves of a local bookshop, this may only apply to those within larger towns. The answer to such problems is to apply to your local library. Pressed as they are for funding in today’s climate of public (or lack of) spending, local lending libraries are there to serve the public, whatever their interests, and have a statutory duty to stock books for which there is a demand, and if enough persistent enquiries and fuss is made then many of the entomological books mentioned in our pages should be available on loan.

TAPE REVIEW

Sound guide to the grasshoppers and allied insects of Great Britain and Ireland by J. F. Burton and D. R. Ragge. Cassette tape, double-sided; playing time 28 minutes. Harley Books, Colchester, 1988. Price £5.75.

I am delighted to have the opportunity here of making some comments on this recorded Sound Guide.

The 35 items are clearly announced and sensibly arranged. The mellow rasping of the Oak bush-cricket is followed by the thin chirping of the Great Green bush-cricket. Later, the song of an isolated male Field- cricket is given, followed firstly by the sound of many in “‘chorus’’, then by the courtship song. This allows the listener an appreciation of the range of sounds peculiar to the species, and an insight into the meaning and purpose of those sounds. Songs of the Stripe-winged grasshopper are given, followed by an example of the species’ courtship song. So, too, with the Lesser marsh grasshopper — and all clearly announced on the recording.

Grasshopper and cricket sounds vary greatly in volume, and many are thin and high pitched. The technical problems of recording such sounds — amplification, distortion, balance — have been successfully overcome in this Sound Guide, and the result is as pleasing as it is educational.

I feel that the recorded work will impress the listener with the variety of sounds produced by stridulation, and with the natural exuberance of the species of the order Orthoptera, especially in courtship. I feel that it will inspire the listener to wander downland, field and grassy wayside, in future, with ears as alert as eyes, capable and assured of discerning many species by sound alone, and of assigning meaning and purpose to these sounds. I feel that it will inspire some to enter into the spirit, and into the music, of cricket and grasshopper song, and serve to enhance their knowledge and enjoyment of this area of entomology thereby.

Frank Marples

AES BULLETIN, Vol. 48 3

NEED FOR NATIONAL NETWORK OF BIOLOGICAL RECORDS

In our last issue we published some account of how the powers that be regarded Biological Recording as ‘‘an area of low priority science.’’ One thing that may not have been apparent from our item was the change of mind that occurred between sending off the manuscript to our printers and the receipt of the proofs. Originally it had been decided to terminate the post of one of the staff at the Monks Wood Biological Records Centre, but during the course of being typeset, as a result of representations being made, this decision was rescinded and nobody is now to be made redundant. Indeed, this area of ‘‘low priority science’’ is now very much alive and kicking and the need for it has been shown to be even more important than ever. The extract below is taken from habitat and speaks for itself:

‘fA national network of biological recording is urgently needed to prepare for land-use changes as UK agricultural land is taken out of production, and as Green Belt land faces increasing pressure from developers. This is the conclusion of a report Biological Survey: Need and Network which is published by the Linnean Society (Price £2 inclusive from them at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1V OLQ) which calls on the Government to supply the initial funding necessary to establish such a network. The report is the work of an expert committee, chaired by Professor R.J. Berry, set up by the Society as a result of concern about the state and lack of co-ordination of biological recording in the British Isles.’

The report acknowledges the work of the Biological Centre at Monk’s Wood which can give the distribution of particular animals and plants. However, it cannot show the diversity or change in particular sites or habitats. There is virtually no co-ordination between the many local and regional records centres which receive and validate data fed in by vast numbers of experts, both amateur and professional. As a result surveys are continually being commissioned by planning departments, the Nature Conservancy Council, water authorities and others when specific information is needed. The report recommends that: —

a co-ordination commission be established under the lead of an

appropriate national body.

a national network of biological record centres be set up, linking and

strengthening the existing county and regional centres.

a national collative and interpretive unit be centred on the Institute of

Terrestrial Ecology.

a central data store be based on the Rural Data Archive at the

University of Essex which already holds a range of environmental

data.

The authors call upon the Government to supply the necessary finance to meet an urgent national need.

4 FEBRUARY 1989

BOOK REVIEW

The Dragonflies of Europe by R. R. Askew, Harley Books, 1988. 291 pp plus 29 colour plates, Hardback, £49.95. ISBN 0 946589 100.

Reviewers are always on their guard against new books which duplicate subjects already covered elsewhere, especially so when the subject is one of the more popular taxonomic groups. The dragonflies are something of an author’s dream; large, beautiful and having a manageable number of species. Not suprisingly, therefore, Dick Askew is by no means the first author in this field. The book is, however, the first English text to cover the entire European dragonfly fauna and for this reason alone, it might be a first choice for anyone who wants to make a really serious study of the Order.

The book starts with five general chapters which outline the biology and the European distribution of Odonata, and the rather large scale of the work gives space for a thorough treatment of this background information. This thoroughness extends to the naming of morphological parts, but some of this terminology is used in the text long before all is revealed in Chapter 5. In the absence of a well demarcated glossary, the information in Chapter 5 could at least have been made more accessible by the inclusion of morphological terms in the index; not every user of the species’ descriptions will be familiar with terms like epiproct and hamule. This is, however a minor problem, and the general chapters are on the whole very helpful.

The style is readable, if necessarily rather didactic, and is relieved by some intriguing snippets of information. Ornithologists, for example, may be alarmed to note that insects can occasionally turn the tables; the American Anax junius has been observed to seize, kill and carry off a hummingbird. Medical entomologists may be equally interested to know that Orthetrum chrysostigma is said to catch tsetse flies on the backs of Africans. The details of copulation and oviposition are particularly well covered, and there are some interesting remarks on ways in which the males of different species seem to have adopted either of two behavioural Strategies to compete genetically with rival individuals. Growth and development are also quite well covered, but there is little explanation of the fact that Odonata are exopterygote insects and therefore do not pupate.

The main part of the work consists of keys and descriptions of taxa within the Odonata. Every European species is thoroughly covered here, and the entry for each species contains a consistent sequence of headings: description of the adult, biology, flight period and distribution. Synonyms for scientific names are given, as are English, French and German common names where these exist. The keys themselves seem to have a good separation of characters, although many of the dichotomies

AES BULLETIN, Vol. 48 5

are based on several different characters, an approach which has both pros and cons for users of keys. Where necessary, separate keys are given for males and females. Every key is supplemented with a wealth of excellent illustrations and with very few exceptions, every set of illustrations covers all the species contained in the particular key.

Each species entry includes a European distribution map which shows national boundaries and which includes much of European Russia and part of North Africa. The maps are based on all the information available to the author, but he has had to place question marks over some distribution ranges, and hopes that other entomologists will be encouraged to help correct and update distribution data. The maps will, of course, be useful in the conservation of species of Odonata, some of which are under severe threat due to destruction and degradation of habitat. This point is made in the book, but there is otherwise little mention of conservation; not necessarily an omission in a book which is geared primarily towards identification.

Since adult insects can only be found in certain months of the year, it is useful to take advantage of the fact that identification, at least to generic level, can often be achieved by examination of the ‘‘skins’’ cast at the final moult. This can also reduce the need to take live adults, even when they are available. The author provides a very useful key for this purpose, compiled largely from the work of earlier authors. This key covers all families and genera and some species.

After a list of references — which are used throughout the text in a scholarly way — the book ends with a series of colour plates, all based on Dick Askew’s own paintings. The male and female of every species are included, as are some of the colour variations. These plates are superb in their morphological detail, in artistic quality and in the standard of reproduction. The plate captions appear opposite the plates themselves and it is only on these facing sheets that any lavish acreage of blank paper appears in the book. This is not unreasonable in view of the varying lengths of the caption, only some of which might have been accommodated beneath the plates.

As far as the paintings-versus-photographs argument is concerned, the former are, perhaps, more appropriate in a definitive work of this type. The reflectance of the wings seen, for example, in Andrew McGeeney’s photographically illustrated book on British dragonflies, can obscure diagnostic features. Colours such as the blue of Coenagrion mercuriale are, however, perhaps rendered more faithfully by well reproduced photographs. Incidentally, McGeeney illustrates a number of colour forms which are not included in Askew’s plates.

The index is very good as far as inclusion of all page references is concerned, and the principal entry in the text for each taxon is well marked by bold type. However, there are virtually no entries for

6 FEBRUARY 1989

subjects, aS Opposed to taxa, except as sub-entries under taxonomic headings. This deficiency has already been mentioned in relation to the reader’s need to find out the meaning of morphological terms.

Despite minor criticisms, this book is a masterpiece and is well worth the admittedly expensive price tag. Dick Askew’s achievement is remarkable when one considers that the study of Odonata is for him a hobby, although he is a professional entomologist. His display of artistic and technical skill in producing both the plates and the text illustrations are also extremely impressive. Like any book which contains morphological keys, it is not instantly accessible to the person whose main experience is with Lepidoptera and whose skill is confined to the recognition of colour patterns, but neither is it an advanced text only for the use of the expert. For anyone whose pocket can take the strain, this will be an outstanding addition to his or her book collection.

David Lonsdale

A THIRD GENERATION OF THE MAP BUTTERFLY (ARASCHNIA LEVANA)

by Peter W. Cribb (2270)

While in northern France at the end of July 1988, we found several batches of newly hatched larvae of the Map butterfly. The eggs are laid in chains suspended from the underside of the terminal leaves of nettles. The nettles were in a clearing on the edge of woodland and the larvae had only just hatched, grouping together on the underside of the leaves adjacent to the egg cases. The first generation of the species emerge from Over-wintered pupae and these are of the typical ‘map’ coloration, flying in early April. These produce a second generation in July and these are of the form prorsa, and look much more like the White Admiral, Limenitis camilla. The larvae we found were the progeny of this generation. On reaching home I kept the larvae outside in a cage and they duly fed up and pupated around 16th August. I left them in the cage, intending to collect them up later to place them into winter quarters in the hope of breeding them on in the Spring. To my surprise I found two males emerged on the Ist September and subsequently five females, all of the prorsa form, though the females showed more of the brown coloration, referable to the intermediate form porima. The remaining ten pupae appear to be going to hibernate. It would appear that the species must regularly produce a partial third brood as the weather conditions in Middlesex would certainly have been less favourable than in France and after the emergence the weather deteriorated so much that I was unable to obtain pairings from those that had emerged. They sat about in the cage, fed occasionally on Sedum flowers but showed no inclination to mate. The literature does not mention this third partial generation.

AES BULLETIN, Vol. 48 7

WHEN IS AN ABERRATION NOT AN ABERRATION?

by Peter Tebbutt (7941)

This somewhat puzzling question occurred to me when I was preparing a talk on Variation in British butterflies. The real confusion began to set in while attempting to differentiate between forms (f) and aberrations (ab). Very few of the textbooks that I possess give definitions. Colour Identification Guide to British Butterflies by T. G. Howarth defines the term form: ‘‘Certain species have responded to their environment more than others and have evolved distinctive coloration or markings. These forms usually have a geographical association and are referred to as chalk, limstone or heathland forms.’’ The aberrations description includes ‘‘Most aberrations, if not all, are genetically controlled, in other words, the characters they possess are inherited, and they may also be controlled environmentally by such factors as temperature.’’

Surely forms are also created by the same means, but are more closely governed by natural selection, especially in the example given, }.e., the Grayling. The lighter marked specimens are less prone to predation on chalk or limestone sites than would be the darker marked heathland specimens, and vice versa. Although, in all probability, both light and dark specimens occurred on all sites originally, the ones whose cryptic coloration most closely resembled its habitat had the best chance of surviving and breeding, and so passed on its genes that controlled its coloration.

Paul Smart in The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World states “‘Strictly, forms are variations of regular occurrence which represent a fairly constant proportion, however small, of the total population. Aberrations are variations of irregular or random appearance .. .”’ So the Silver-washed fritillary (Argynnis paphia) valezina and the Clouded yellow (Colias croceus) helice are by definition forms, as well as being examples of dimorphism. Both are colour forms that are believed to represent 5% - 15% of the female population, where found. That is the awkward bit!

The Clouded yellow is a notable wanderer, so the helice form is equally wide-spread. The Silver-washed fritillary however, is much more sedentary. While the va/ezina form is found in many of the localities it is unrecorded from others. If it therefore suddenly occurred in a colony where it was previously unrecorded would it suddenly become an aberration?

Confused? So was I, and it deepened further when I included two varieties of the Chalkhill blue (Lysandra coridon) into the reckoning. The famous fowleri and the equally famous and beautiful tithonus are both known to be of reasonably regular appearance in some colonies,

8 | FEBRUARY 1989

while being virtually unrecorded from others. Would they be referable to f. fowleri or tithonus from site ‘‘A’’ while being ab. fowleri or tithonus from site ‘‘B’’? These examples could be added to almost indefinitely.

A further point was raised during correspondence with Mr Brian O. C. Gardiner concerning the occurrence of the Large white (Pieris brassicae) ab. coerulea. Having answered my enquiry he went on to say that a different P. brassicae ab. could be produced by rearing at high humidity, and finished with ‘‘Still I suppose as the results are not genetically inherited such forms do not count.”’

This was like kicking somebody when they were already down. If it were true, what about all the magnificent melanic abs. that are found, particularly in the family Nymphalidae? Would the Purple emperor (Apatura iris) ab. iole, the White Admiral (Ladoga camilla) ab. nigrina, Small tortoiseshell (Ag/ais urticae) ab. semiichnusoides, the Silver- washed fritillary (A. paphia) ab. nigricans and many others suddenly be discounted? All have appeared in captive reared stock when the freshly formed pupa are subjected to severe temperature change, either too high or too low, but is it exactly the same in the wild? Is the presence of one or more genes necessary before the resultant imago is affected, or is it simply all down to the exact time and/or duration of the hot or cold spell?

Can different varieties created by temperature or humidity really be discounted because they are not genetically inherited? Surely all spring or summer broods that show seasonal differences are created by such changes. It is just that their appearance can be relied upon while the others are of irregular or random appearance. (Didn’t I see that definition applied to aberrations earlier?)

My personal view is that if a variety occurs under natural conditions, no matter how extreme these need to be for its appearance, then it should be counted as an aberration. Whether or not it should receive a formal description and Latin name is open to much debate. I think that one-off abs. do not warrant such treatment, but if it occurs several times then a specific name Is perhaps justified.

One last poser was set by the Large heath (Coenonympha tullia), which in the British Isles. is subject to gradual variation over a geographical area, the term cline often being used. It has three named sub-species or forms (depending on the literature referred to), but many intermediate colour or spot variation may be encountered. Should these intermediaries be referred to with the two names that they are between, in much the same manner as half way between north and east on a compass is north-east, while 50% nearer the north is north-north-east, etc?

AES BULLETIN, Vol. 48 9

My own use of the term form is restricted to any variety that is dimorphic or seasonally dimorphic, while the term aberration is used for all other varieties whether genetically inherited or climatically produced.

Although all the examples cited are butterflies, this confusion of terminology must equally apply to moths and other insects, and, to a somewhat lesser extent, all animals and plants. If any member can supply a reliable definition for forms and aberrations I would be eternally grateful. Also any views as to whether or not an aberration counts if it is produced other than by genetic inheritance would be most welcome.

JOHN CROMPTON’S WORKS — HELP WANTED by William Weinstein

I am presently investigating the life of John Battersby Crompton Lamburn, who under the name John Crompton wrote six natural history books between the 1940s and 1960s. These books, which recently have been reissued in the United States, are:

— A Hive of Bees (first published as The Hive) — The Hunting Wasp

— The Spider

— The Ways of the Ant

— The Living Sea

— The Snake

These were beautifully written books, with a loyal group of readers. Crompton’s books were written for a lay audience; his assertions about insect intelligence received scorn from most of the scientific community.

Much of Crompton’s correspondence has been lost. I am writing to inquire whether any of your members recall Crompton’s work, remember some of the controversies he was involved in, or even corresponded with him (and wish to share their correspondence). I am interested in any reaction the British natural science public (lay or scientific) has had, including that of younger members who have come upon Crompton’s work.

Did his books have any particular influence on them as students of natural history? Do they think he has been overlooked (or has he been properly overlooked)? Do they take issue with what he wrote? What do they find most appealing, fascinating, irritating, infuriating, endearing, important about his work?

If any members can be of any help I shall be greatly indebted to them and can be contacted at 660 Fort Washington Avenue, SF, New York NY 10040, USA.

10 FEBRUARY 1989 ©

BOOK REVIEW

CIE Guides to insects of importance to man. 1. Lepidoptera by J. D. Holloway, J. D. Bradley and D. J. Carter; Ed., C. R. Betts. C.A.B. International Institution of Entomology/British Museum Natural History, London. Pp. 262, Price £14.00 spiral bound and £25.00 hardback.

This is emphatically not a guide to the identification of species, but it is designed to help the reader to identify Lepidoptera to family, and in some cases sub-family, level. It also includes much information on the economic and scientific importance (both negative and positive) of the many taxonomic groupings within the Order, together with notes on their general biology. As the textual version of a training course, the book also includes, for completeness, elementary guidance on methods of collection, preservation and microscopic examination.

It is pointed out early in the text that the taxonomy of the Order leaves a lot to be desired, partly because both classifiers and identifiers have relied too heavily on the comparison of wing colour patterns for characterisation of taxa. Details of body structure and surface sculpturing may need to be used increasingly in taxonomic work, and the likelihood of consequent revision means that the book represents the state of a changing ‘‘art’’ in this respect. Visual matching cannot, in any case, achieve adequate identification for higher taxa, and this means that keys — rather than pictorial guides — have to be used. Keys of such length may be unfamiliar to amateur lepidopterists who have never tried to identify ‘‘other orders’’, but these keys rely heavily on wing characters, especially venation, which should be familiar territory. There are also many drawings which illustrate features of diagnostic importance.

Following a short guide to the suborders, infraorders and divisions of the Lepidoptera, there is a key to the ditrysian families and some subfamilies. The following section provides descriptions of these groups, together with notes and references on their economic importance. This section is divided, for convenience rather than for taxonomic validity, between the Micro and Macrolepidoptera.

Since many encounters with economically important Lepidoptera are made at the larval stage, it is good to find an additional key to families which is based on larval characters. There is also a guide to pupae. The head and the prolegs figure prominently in most parts of the larval key which, like the adult keys, is well supplied with illustrations. The book closes with a sizeable list of references.

The academic or the economic entomologist will feel more at home

with this book than the amateur lepidopterist, who may be discouraged not only by the need to use complex identification keys, but also by the

AES BULLETIN, Vol. 48 11

sometimes rather dry, if grammatically correct text. The rather small size of print also detracts from the book’s superficial appeal. For the more advanced amateur, however, the book could prove to be a mine of information and a means of understanding the Lepidoptera within the broader entomological context.

D. Lonsdale

CAN INSECTS TRANSMIT AIDS?

by John Clarke (8784)

Over a thousand cases of AIDS have now been reported from the U.K. and the possibility of insect transmission may be of concern both to those visiting West Africa and to those who feed their ‘‘pets’’ on their own blood.

Insects transmit disease by two mechanisms:- firstly biological transmission when the organism is ingested in blood, multiplies and is injected (in saliva) into a second human when feeding next occurs; this is how malaria is spread. Secondly mechanical transmission in which blood remaining on the mouth parts is introduced when the second victim is pierced.

The AIDS virus, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), does not multiply in insect tissue culture or in insects fed, or injected, with highly infectious blood. The receptor to which HIV binds is absent in insect cells and the only organisms that can be infected are man and the chimpanzee. The only piece of evidence to support insect infection is that the DNA of some insects in areas of high prevalence contain a sequence resembling that of HIV; the fact that these include male mosquitoes and antlions which would have no means of contacting the virus suggest that they have identified an insect virus and not HIV.

Thus mechanical transmission is the only route by which HIV could be transferred; the probability of this occurring depends upon 1. the possibility of biting an infected person which is perhaps 1% 2. who has free virus in the blood, only 20 - 30% have detectable HIV 3. the amount of residual blood on the mouthparts, and 4. theinfectivity of that small amount.

Bedbug mouthparts contain approximately seven millionths of a ml and horseflies about 10 x 10~-*ml. The usual concentration of HIV in man is low; only one in a million lymphocytes (white blood cells) are infectious and only 175 would remain in the mouth parts of the average bedbug.

12 FEBRUARY 1989

Time and concentration seem vital to virus survival in bloodsucking insects: —

Mosquitoes fed on 10-100,000 infectious units/ml = no survival Mosquitoes fed on | million infectious units/ml = 48 hours survival Bedbugs fed on 10-100,000 infectious units/ml = 1-4 hours survival Bedbugs fed on 10 million infectious units/ml = 72 hours survival

To put this into perspective remember that only 20% have virus in blood and the average concentration in 2-5 units/ml.

After feeding most insects rest and digest their blood meal and only bite a second time if feeding is interrupted. This is more likely with the larger biting flies and the second bite is generally attempted on the same host. Only 2% of feeds are interrupted.

Thus it requires a remarkable series of unlikely events all of which must coincide before insect transmission is even theoretically possible.

The next question to address is— ‘‘Is there any evidence that insect transmission does occur?”’

The pattern of AIDS in Africa does not resemble that of other diseases that do involve an insect vector. Even in areas of high prevalence, children (who are commonly bitten) and the elderly are at low risk and AIDS most commonly occurs in sexually active males between 20 and 35 years. It is ridiculous to suggest that an unidentified African insect bites only this group, homosexuals, drug addicts and prostitutes.

Household contacts of AIDS sufferers are no more likely than the general population to become infected which would not be the case if bedbugs were transmitting the virus between family members.

However remote the risks of contacting AIDS from tropical biting insects it must be remembered that a large number of singularly nasty, and sometimes fatal, diseases are transmitted by this route and the enthusiast who knowingly allows himself to be bitten by wild Reduvid bugs, Tsetse flies, Ticks or Mosquitoes is courting disaster. Malaria can occur despite taking the correct pills (and be fatal despite treatment) and some ticks transmit viruses that cause the most devastating and untreatable infections of the central nervous system.

So when travelling abroad it is sensible to avoid biting insects, use repellants and other means of protection (nets) and above all remember to take your malaria pills during your trip and for six weeks after returning.

AES BULLETIN, Vol. 48 13

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS ON VARIOUS WATER BEETLES

by Mark Johnson (3464)

When I first started to keep water beetles I suffered many deaths. I then went to the local petshop where I had purchased my aquarium tank and explained that the water was turning green. The owner then introduced me to some products named ‘‘Aquarian’’ and I used No. 4 which contains a special fungicide said to be harmless to other plants and to fish. But still one of the Hyphydrus died. I then tried product No. 6 which contains preventative medicaments to combat and kill many ectoparasites. Now I had noticed white spots, both on water beetles I had freshly caught and on the glass sides of my aquarium and when I consulted the leaflet that comes with the ‘‘Aquarian’’ products I found that these were bladders containing Ichthyophyrius multifils.

I had been using, as I believe do most people, tap water. From experience I am now Sticking to using this only after it has been filtered through a container in which there is a ‘‘Brita’’ filter which completely purifies the water and then add the ‘‘Aquarian’’ conditioners which clears any diseases (parasites) the beetles might have and controls the growth of algae in my aquarium. Whenever the water commences to become cloudy, as it does from time to time, then I change it.

I now have, and find they live happily together, specimens of Acilius, Hyphydrus and Hygrobia. I have collected and observed species of these genera a lot and have also had examples of species of Rantus and Agabus.

The beetle Hygrobia hermanni is easily recognised by its yellow and black colouring. It has a fair-sized body and the legs are of a lighter colour. When annoyed by similar individuals of the same species, this beetle makes an audible screech, but when it seems happy to accept the presence of another individual the sound is different, this time being a loud click.In Victorian days, because of this remarkable feature, these beetles were sold as pets in St.Martin’s Lane, London. It is important however, not to overfeed, particularly with the corned beef as this soon putrifies and the beetles do not then like the conditions and try to escape from the aquarium.

As to feeding, I found that Acilius does prefer corned beef, while Hygrobia and Hyphydrus prefer Tubifex worms and Daphnia.

Now I have found that Acilius sulcatus is a very quiet elusive species which spends a lot of time resting. Through watching on and off over the past three years I have recorded that these species usually hide by day, only swimming infrequently, and they are most active during the night, particularly between one and three am. I have also found that if the aquarium is of large enough size and is sufficiently laid out with the

14 FEBRUARY 1989

Acilius sulcatus mating. Drawn from life by Mark Johnson.

appropriate contents of weed and hiding places, then these beetles will not attack or interfere with each other, accepting the aquarium as they would a natural pond.

One observation that I have made is the acute vision of Acilius sulcatus. This beetle has wide angle vision as even when I crept up on them at night and was still standing a few feet away they would dive. I did once manage to creep up without one so doing and managed to draw him amongst the floating vegetation. Acilius seem to be night-time