ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 249 



Report on the fig moth in Smyrna, E. G. Smyth ( XJ. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. 

 Ent. Bill. lOJf, pp. 41-65, pis. 12). — This is a report of investigations made in 

 Smyrna. 



In observations of the percentage of infestation on the " sergbi ", tliat is. beds 

 of reeds or otber suitable plants laid upon the groimd to protect figs from con- 

 tact with the soil while drying, the author found that an exposure of one night 

 resulted in an infestation of 29 i)er cent, whereas 2 nights resulted in 38* per 

 cent, and 3 nights 44.5 per cent becoming infested. The moths were found to 

 be more abundant in the fig depots than outside over the " sergbi." 



" Infestation of the figs begins in or near the orchards in the interior of Asia 

 Minor, before the dried fruit has reached Smyrna to be packed. Out of 100 

 worm-infested figs, the larvie in possibly 5 to 10 per cent of them might be traced 

 to the tree, while the other 90 to 95 per cent of the larv?e develop from eggs 

 laid either while the figs are on the ' sergbi ' or in the fig depots of the villages. 

 The number of larvje originating from eggs laid while the figs are in freight 

 cars en route to Smyrna, in the packing ' khans ' of Smyrna, or in the holds of 

 steamers en route to America, is inconsiderable." 



Methods of control are considered at some length. As related to pi'evention 

 the author emphasizes as 4 very important measures those noted above as to 

 the disposal of the June cx'op of figs ; the covering of the figs at night while 

 on the " sergbi " ; the screening of the fig depots ; and the prompt delivery of the 

 figs to the " khans." As regards the destruction of the fig moth larvre in 

 the " khans," it remains for packers to demonstrate by actual experience 

 whether the use of steam, hot water, or dry heat is the most practical, ex- 

 periments having shown that each has its advantages and is capable of eradicat- 

 ing the larvre under proper conditions. 



Papers on insects affecting vegetables. — The Hawaiian beet webworm 

 (Hymenia fascialis), II. O. Marsh (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 109, pt. 1, 

 pp. 15. pi. 1, figs. 2). — This account is based upon studies conducted in the 

 Hawaiian Islands during the latter half of 1910. 



H. fa.scialis is said to be such a serious pest of sugar beets in Hawaii that 

 unless controlled the crop probably can not be profitably grown. The food plants 

 of this species in Hawaii include table beets, sugar beets, mangel-wurzels, several 

 species of Amaranthus, Euxolus, purslane (Portulaca oleracea), cucumbers, and 

 chenopodiaceous weeds. Among the wild food plants, Amaranthus is the 

 favorite. These weeds gi'ow in abundance along fences and in neglected spots, 

 and it frequently happens that the plants are so completely stripped of foliage 

 that large patches of them die. Cultivated Amaranthus is likewise severely 

 damaged. 



This webworm can be found throughout the year in all stages of development. 

 The eggs are deposited in lai-ge numbers along the midrib and larger veins, as 

 many as 40 having been counted on a single beet leaf. The young larvoe, which 

 hatch out as soon as 4 days, feed on the lower surface of the leaves and, except 

 when nearly mature, consume only the surface. The larv?e. which in some 

 cases spin light webs under which they rest, reach maturity under normal con- 

 ditions in from 9 to 13 days. " They then leave the plants, burrow slightly 

 beneath the surface, and form firm, compact, oblong cocoons of webbed-together 

 gi'ains of earth. . . . They usually pupate about 2 days after entering the soil, 

 and the adults issue from 7 to 13 days later, thus completing a generation in 

 from 22 to 31 days. . . . The climate of Hawaii is so equable that this pest is 

 enabled to breed continuously, and it is possible that 10 to 12 generations might 

 be produced annually." The author's observations indicate that the female is 

 capable of depositing at least 100 eggs. Three species of hymenopterous para- 



