ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 853 



soap-and-tobacco wash, resiu soda fish-oil wash, soap and fish-oil wash, resin 

 soda wash, and tobacco decoction wash. The soap-and-tobacjco wash, consist- 

 ing of 2^ lbs. of soap dissolved in a gallon of water, mixed with 1 qt. of strong 

 tobacco decoction and boiled 5 minutes, then diluted to make 5 gal. gave the 

 best results, the aphids being practically all killed while the plants were not 

 seriously injured by the spray. The resin soda fish-oil wash also killed the 

 aphids, but the plants were somewhat more injured. The soap and fish-oil 

 wash burned the foliage so badly that it was at once discarded, while the resin 

 soda wash and the tobacco decoction used were ineffective. From further 

 experiments conducted with soap-and-tobacco washes, the author concludes 

 that ordinarily prepared tobacco decoction alone is not satisfactorily effective, 

 but that when combined with soap suds it does the work well. A wash made up 

 of 1^ lbs. of soap dissolved in ^ gal. of water with ^ gal. of strong tobacco 

 decoction added and diluted to make 5 gal. will prove an effective wash in 

 controlling the melon aphis and will not injure to any serious extent the foliage 

 of either muskmelons or cucumbers. 



The commercial tobacco extract " Blackleaf," which contains 2.7 per cent 

 of nicotin, was tested at 3 strengths, namely 1 : 25, 1 : 50, and 1 : 70. " The re- 

 sults seem to indicate that the 1 : 50 dilution was suflaciently more effective than 

 the 1 : 70 wash to justify the use of the greater strength. The 1 : 25 dilution, 

 while not injurious to the plants, was unnecessarily strong and therefore not 

 economical." After comparing the cost of the various soap-and-tobacco washes 

 the author concludes that Blackleaf is the cheapest effective spraying material 

 tried, while it also has the advantage of being practically ready for use, is of 

 uniform and definite strength, and somewhat easier of application because of 

 its greater thinness. 



Attention is called to the importance of gathering together and burning the 

 vines as soon as the crop is gathered and in this way destroying the aphids 

 which are harboring thereon. 



The large moth borer of sug'ar cane (Castnia licus), F. A. Stockdale (Proc. 

 Agr. Soc. Trinidad and Tobago, JO {1910), No. J,, pp. 114-120). — An account of 

 the life history, habits, and remedial measures for this insect. 



An insect pest of pigeon peas, F. A. Stockdale (Jour. Bd. Agr. Brit. Guiana, 

 Jf (1911), No. 4, p. 239). — The larvae of the skipper butterfly Eudamus proteus 

 are said to be very destructive to young pigeon-pea plants (Cajanus indicus) 

 in the Pomeroon District of British Guiana. 



Combating cotton worms, G. Gandaba (Estac. Agr. Cent. [Mexico], Bol. 43, 

 1910, pp. 19, fjg. 1). — This bulletin deals with Alahama (Aletia) argillacea, its 

 biology, and preventive and remedial measures. 



A contribution to the knowledge of the pine spinner Lasiocampa (Gastro- 

 pacha, Dendrolimus) pini, K. Eckstein (Zool. Jahrh., AM. System., Geogr. u. 

 Biol. Tiere, 81 (1911), No. 1, pp. 59-164, pis. 6, figs. 3).— This is a report of 

 extensive studies of the life history, bionomics, enemies, and economic impor- 

 tance of this lepidopterous enemy of the pine. A bibUography of 103 titles is 

 appended. 



Cecidomyiid parasites of the mulberry Diaspis, J. J. Kieffek (Bol. Lah. 

 Zool. Gen. e Agr. R. Scuola Sup. Agr. Portiei, 4 (1910), pp. 128-133, figs. 3).— 

 Three cecidomyiids of the genus Arthrocnodax. bred from the branches of 

 Morns alha, infested by Aulacaspis (Diaspis) pentagona, are described as new. 



Sarcophaga lineata a parasite of Stauronotus maroccanus in Sardinia, 

 G. Paoli (Bol. Lab. Zool. Gen. e Agr. R. Scuola Sup. Agr. Portiei, 4 (1910), pp. 

 347-352). — An account is given of this sarcophagid parasite of the cricket 8. 

 maroccanus. 



