558 EXIM'-HIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Two new species of the genus Tetrastichus, J. ('. ("kawtord (Proc. Ent. 8oc. 

 M'd.sli., II U!)()'J), Xo. .i, p. J')()). — Tetrastich us asixinif/i. roared from os«s of 

 the asparagus beetle at Amherst, Mass., and T. huntcri reared from (lie larva 

 of the l)oll weevil at Natchez, Miss., are described as new to scietice. 



The biolog-y and morpholog-y of one of the parasites (Apanteles glomera- 

 tus) of the cabbage butterfly, R. Weissenbkrg {Sitzbcr. Gescll. Naturf. Frcunde 

 Berlin, nWS, Xo. J, pp. 1-18, figs. 9). — This parasite of Picris hrassicce is said 

 to be niuisiially common in the vicinity of P.erlin. 



A synopsis of the American species of Scolioneurinae, A. D. Macgillivray 

 {Ann. Jjht. *S'(V('. Ariier., 2 {1909), Xo. Ji, pp. 259-271). — Two genera and 4 species 

 of sawfiies are described as new to science. 



Observations on the biology of ticks, B. Galli-Valerio {CcntU. Balct. [etc.], 

 1. AM., Orig., .'il {1908), No. 5, pp. 611, 612, fig. i).— Notes on the biology of 

 Ixodes hc-vagonus and /. ricinus. 



Notes on mites affecting chickens, G. W. Herbick {Jour. Econ. Ent., 2 

 {1909), Xo. 5, PI). 3'il. il'i2). — Young chickens in the poultry yards at Agri- 

 cultural College, Miss., are reported to have been affected during the summers 

 of 1908 and IDOi), by Trombidium larvie. The mites were found nearly buried 

 in nodules which had been formed about them. Affected chicks seem to con- 

 tract a diarrhea, grow weaker and weaker, and finally die. The mites are 

 believed to be responsible for a high mortality among chickens in the South. 



Ticks and other blood-sucking arthropoda [in Jamaica], R. Newstead 

 {Ann. Trop. Med. and Par., 3 {1909), No. J,, pp. Jt21-Ji69, pis. /,, figs. 2).— This 

 account is based upon investigations conducted in Jamaica from the end of 

 November, 1908, to the end of January, 1909. The greater part of the report 

 is given up to the ticks which by their vast numbers have rendered nearly all 

 the grazing districts of the island unendurable to man and a veritable plague 

 to domesticated animals. 



The author first discusses the seasonal prevalence of ticks, effect of rain 

 and water on ticks and their eggs, dissemination of cattle ticks by various 

 agencies, prevailing conditions under which pastures are either most free or 

 most infested with ticks, longevity of ticks without access to a host, and the 

 life cycle and structural characters of ticks, and presents an artificial key to 

 the Jamaica ticks. 



Eight species of ticks which occur in Jamaica are considered of which all 

 but the fowl tick {Argas persictis miniatus) were found by the author. The 

 cattle tick {Margaropus annulatus austraJis) is by far the most abundant in 

 the island, 90 to 95 per cent of those found being of this species. Rhipi- 

 ccphalus sanguineus is said to be a source of great annoyance to dogs. The 

 tropical horse tick {Dermacentor nitens) is reported to be fairly widely dis- 

 tributed over the island. Amblyomma cajenncnse, which, next to the cattle 

 tick, is the most abundant species in Jamaica, is generally distributed in all 

 localities where domestic animals are kept and is a great pest to man. A. 

 maculatum was collected in the Mandeville district of Manchester. A. 

 dissimilc was collected from the so-called bull frog {Bufo marinus), and a 

 single specimen of a species of Aponomma was taken from a lizard {Anolis 

 sp.) Attention is called to the fact that Mysore cattle are almost totally 

 immune to the attack of ticks and that the ticks show a preference for cattle 

 which have little or no Indian or Spanish strain in their blood. 



The natural enemies of ticks mentioned as occurring in Jamaica are the 

 Savanah blackbird {Quiscalus crassirostris) , the food of which consists chiefly 

 of insects and ticks, the Savanah or parrot-billed blackbird {Crotophaga ani), 

 the domestic fowl, lizards, and the bull frog {Bufo marinus). Remedial 



