ENTOMOLOGY. 463 



The acidity of the sap of American vines in relation to their resistance 

 to phylloxera, according to Comes, R. Averna-Sacca {Abs. in Intenutt. Inst. 

 Agr. [Rome], Bui. Bur. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 1910, No. 2, p. 386). — 

 The author's investigations have led him to the following conclusions: 



" Every circumstance which tends to decrease the natural acidity of the vines 

 must tend to weaken their resistance to phylloxera. And since, in the South, 

 the warm, dry condition of the plains, the supei'abundance of lime in the soil, 

 and the careful cultivation (especially with farmyard manure) tend to diminish 

 the acidity of the plants, it is clear that in sunny wine-growing regions of the 

 South, in calcareous soils and in vineyards where there is intense cultivation, 

 the original resistance of the American vines to phylloxera is enfeebled by 

 degrees, and with time the vines reconstituted on American stocks deteriorate 

 more or less seriously." 



Papers on Coccidse or scale insects. — Catalogue of recently described 

 Coccidae, III, E. R. Sasscer (U. S'. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 16, pt. J,, tech. 

 ser., pp. 61-1 .'i). — This part, which is in continuation of the catalogue by J. G. 

 Sanders previously noted (E. S. R., 22, p. 554), is thought to be fairly complete 

 up to March, 1911. It refers to 3 new subgenera, 9S new species, and 5 new 

 varieties of scale insects. 



Damag'e to sugar cane in Louisiana by the sugar-cane borer, T. C. Barbeb 

 (U. 8. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Circ. 139, pp. 12)- — This borer has been the most 

 serious enemy of sugar cane with which the Louisiana planter has had to con- 

 tend for many years. During the course of observations and experiments con- 

 ducted by the author in 1910, it was found to be responsible for much injury 

 that is not apparent at first sight. 



" Its harmful work begins with the destruction of eyes of seed cane, reducing 

 the stand during the following year ; continues through the growing season of 

 the cane by stunting its growth, and causing damage from windstorms, owing to 

 the weakening of the stalk due to the burrows and girdles ; and ends by causing 

 a much lower percentage of juice, which is again of a much poorer quality in 

 infested canes than in uninfested canes. The last is an important form of 

 injury, which appears to have been overlooked by investigators and planters. 

 Moreover, the holes made by the cane borers are the chief means of entrance 

 to the stalk afforded the various fungus diseases of the sugar cane. The ton- 

 nage yield per acre is reduced by borers, and the average weight of canes other- 

 wise similar in appearance is found to be reduced by borer infestation." 



The subject is taken up under the headings of injury to seed cane, injury to 

 growing cane, and injury to mature cane and juice. Counts made of 3.834 

 canes showed 1,313 to be borer-free and 2,521, or 65.75 per cent, infested by the 

 borer. Investigations conducted indicate that the difference in yield between 

 borer-free and borer-infested cane fields amounts to about 1 ton of cane per 

 acre when the borer-free cane gives a yield of 25 tons per acre, and that there 

 is a loss of 1,078.5 lbs. of sucrose per acre. 



Investigations of methods of control are now under way. 



The root borer of the sugar cane (Agr. News [Barbados], 10 (1911). No. 

 2^0, p. 218, figs. 2). — The sugar cane root borer {Diaprepes ahbreviatus) . which 

 appeared as a serious pest in a limited area In Barbados at the end of 1909 

 and early in 1910, was again in evidence and caused serious injury to ripening 

 sugar cane during the early months of 1911. 



Biology of the cochylis and eudemis moths, P. ilARCHAL (Rev. Vit., 35 

 {1911), Nos. 903, pp. 381-385; 90-i, pp. ^19-^,23) .—The author presents a brief 

 account of the biology of Cochylis ambiguella and Eudemis botrana, 2 of the 



