276 Agricultural Gazette of N.S.V/, [April 3, 1920. 



sides of the head ; antennap with the terminal joints forming a club. The thorax is rather 

 flattened on the dorsal surface, a little more long than broad, rounded on both the hind 

 and front margins, and with sides straight, but sloping" slightly to the hind margin, the 

 whole surface being finely granulated. The wing covers are long and narrow, their front 

 margin straight with tips rounded, and the surface finely granulated with fine parallel 

 striae. The hind pair of wings is well developed, for this little beetle can fly well. The 

 legs are long, with slender tibiae and long tarsi. Length. I of an inch. 



A Parasite on the Powder-poBt Beetle. 



There has been no record, as far as the writer knows, of a parasite attacking 

 or checking the increase of this very serious wood-destroying beetle ; but 

 early in 1919 a badly-infested board of '" blue fig " was sent to this office 

 from southern Queensland. It was full of fine pin-holes from which powdered 

 wood-dust was falling. The board remained under observation for several 

 months, when several adult beetles emerged, which proved to be the well- 

 known Lyctus brunneus. The beetles first appeared on the surface of the 

 board in May, and it was toward the end of the month, while collecting 

 specimens of them, that their hymenopterous parasite was first noticed 

 coming out of the holes in the board. 



This Braconid wasp measures 4 mm. in length. The head is reddish- 

 brown, and the antennae (except the basal joints, which are reddish-brown), 

 ■eyes, and area round the ocelli black. The dorsal surface of the thorax, the 

 ;abdomen, and ovipositor are black, with a slight reddish-brown mottle on 

 the thorax in some specimens, and the undersurface lighter coloured. The 

 legs are a yellowish-brown, wings hyaline, and the costal nervure and stigma 

 black, with inner veins of a lighter colour. 



Some Recent Publications. 



Copies of the undermentioned publications may be obtained by farmers free 

 of cost, on application to the Under Secretary and Director, Department of 

 Agriculture, Sydney : — 



Farmers' Bulletin, No. 129. The Beginner in Bee Culture. W. A. 

 Goodacre, Senior Apiary Inspector. 



Laying Out and Planting an Orchard. 



List ot Publications of the Department. 



The Sowing of Wheat. 



Some Points in Oat Growing. 



The Farmer's Sheep. 



Potatoes : If you grow them properly, they pay. 



The Production of Citrus Fruits. 



Diseases of Animals - 



Blackleg. 



Abortion. 



Pleuropneumonia. 



Fluke. 



Inflammation of the Udder. 



Ophthalmia. 

 No. 11 : Derangement of Digestive 



Organs of Horses. 

 No. 12 : White Scour in Calves. 



