abstracts: entomology 145 



ENTOMOLOGY. — The Occurrence of a cotton boll weevil in Arizona. 

 W. DwiGHT Pierce. Journal of Agricultural Research 1: 89-96, 

 figs. 1-9. 1913. 



A new variety of the cotton boll weevil, Anthonomus grayidis thur- 

 beriae, has been found to occur in a state of nature on the co-called Ari- 

 zona wild cotton, Thiirberia thespesioides, in mountain canyons of the 

 Santa Catalina, and Santa Rita ^Mountains of Arizona. 



The weevil breeds in the buds and bolls of this plant at altitudes of 

 4000 to 5000 feet. It can hardly have more than two full generations 

 a year because of the late blooming season of the plant. The species 

 hibernates as an adult in the bolls, remaining in the pupal cell often 

 until September 1, although the majority probably emerge in August. 



Attack on the buds begins about August 15. The egg is usuall}- 

 inserted in the lower part of the bud, and this soon drops to the ground. 

 The larva develops and pupates in the fallen bud and emerges in a few 

 weeks. The second generation is probably almost entirely on the 

 bolls. 



At Victoria, Texas it has been found that the Arizona variety can 

 breed in cotton and that it can interbreed with the genuine cotton boll 

 weevil. 



The greatest significance of the discovery of this weevil lies in the 

 fact that the westward extension of cotton culture has brought cotton 

 production to within twenty miles of one of the canyons where the wee- 

 vil was actually found. 



The apparently greater adaptability of the Arizona form to extremes 

 of climate may also indicate the possibility that this form could success- 

 fully endure the severe climate of the western Texas cotton areas where 

 the boll weevil has never succeeded in establishing itself. W. D. P. 



ENTOMOLOGY. — Descriptions of twenty-three new genera and thirty- 

 one new species of Ichneumon-flies. Henry L. Viereck. Pro- 

 ceedings of the U. S. National Museum 46: 359-386. December 

 31, 1913. 

 Describes the new genera Eristernaulax, Macroneuroides, Tracha- 

 gathis and Zadiolcogaster in the Braconidae, and in the Ichneumonidae 

 the following as new: Aglaojoppidea, Cryptanuridimorpha, Crypto- 

 phion, Cryptopterigimorpha, Digonocryptus, Epiopelmidea, Joppo- 

 cryptus, Lamprocryptidea, Monogonocryptus, Phaenolabrorychus, 

 Photocryptus, Polyaenidea, Polyc\Ttidea, Polycj^timorpha, Thymari- 



