ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 161 



nurseries. The purple scale was fouud in 1 nursery and was exterminated, 

 while the Glover scale was found near nurseries but not on any nursery stock. 



Preliminary work in a study of the transmission of blue tongue or malarial 

 catarrhal fever of sheep was begun. Attempts made to feed mosquitoes on af- 

 fected sheep were not carried to a satisfactory termination through the great 

 difficulty in getting mosquitoes to feed on the animals. 



The work against locusts is considered at some length. As predicted in the 

 previous reijort, the colonies suffered a greater infestation by the brown locust 

 than has been experienced since 1893. The Plasmopara vine disease is briefly 

 discussed. An apparently undescribed scale which is closely related to the San 

 Jose scale was discovered to have become established at Bloemfontein. Three 

 parasites were reared from codling moths collected in the Cape peninsula, 2 of 

 which have been determined as Pimpla Jieliophila and Hymenibosmina pomo- 

 nellce. Attempts to introduce a parasite of the red scale from West Australia 

 were unsuccessful. In experiments with the fruit fly {Ceratitis capitata) in 

 which boxes were kept at temperatures of 38 to 40° F. for 21 days, all of 266 

 maggots were found to be dead when examined and 2 puparia discovered failed 

 to develop. The Kafir corn aphis was a subject of special inquiry. The Eriuose 

 disease of the vine, caused by Phytoptis vitis, is said to have spread widely in 

 western vineyards in late years. 



Some insect pests of last season, F. Thomsen (Transvaal Agr. Jour., 7 

 (1909), No. 28, pp. 675-678, pis. 3, map 1). — ^An account of the more important 

 insects occurring in the Transvaal. 



A study of three injurious insects (Bui. Mens. Off. Renscig. Agr. {Parish, 

 7 (1908), No. 12, pp. lJi91-1513). — This article forms the principal part of a 

 report of work conducted in the Gironde in 1907 upon Eudentis hotrana, Phyl- 

 lodecta vulgatissima, and Termes lucifngus. 



Some insects injurious to cabbage, cucumbers, and related crops, F. H. 

 Chittenden (Virginia Truck Sta. Bui. 2, pp. 19-Ji8, figs. 14). — These studies 

 were in cooperation with the Bureau of Entomology of this Department. 



Aphids are said to have been the most important insect pests in tidewater 

 Virginia during the past few years. During the spring of 1908, a serious out- 

 break of the cabbage aphis occurred, the loss amounting to from 65 to SO per 

 cent of the crop in infested fields. A braconid, Lipolexis piceus, was the most 

 effective agent in the natural control of this pest. 



In remedial experiments, conducted during the year and reported by C. H. 

 Popenoe, it was found that atmospheric and other conditions being equal, and 

 without high winds or ensuing rain, there is little difference in the effects of 

 kerosene-soap emulsion, diluted with 15 parts of water, and whale-oil soap at 

 the rate of 8 lbs. to 50 gal. of water. Experiments indicate that fumigation 

 methods can scarcely be of value in the treatment of field cabbage for the 

 cabbage aphis. 



The spinach aphis (Myzus persicce), was the source of very, severe injury 

 in the trucking region of Norfolk, Va., during the fall and early winter of 

 1907, affecting about 1,000 acres and causing loss estimated at $750,000. The 

 seed-corn maggot (Pegomya fusciceps) was observed during April and May 

 doing great damage to late-planted beans in the vicinity of Diamond Springs, 

 Va. In certain areas, rows were entirely killed off, necessitating replanting. 

 As many as 5 to 10 maggots were found in single seed beans, and in many 

 cases in nearly every seed. 



During 1908-9, the imported cabbage worm was present in all fields of cab- 

 bage and other cole crops doing its customary amount of damage to early 

 cabbage in May. Brief mention is made of the cabbage looper (Atitographa 



