558 EXPERIMENT STATION KECORD. 



insi'ct the author ivi-diuiueiKls the use of a uiechaiiical mixture of kerosene and 

 water. 



Caterpillar plagues, A. L. IIekkeua (Cum. I'ar. Ayr. [Jicj/co], Vlrv. J/.j. jip. 

 I'l, fii/H. 1). — Brief mention is made of outbreaks of leaf-eating caterpillars on 

 cabbage, grapes, sugar cane, cotton, and other fiber plants. Directions are also 

 given for the preparation of arsenical insecticides for controlling these pests. 



The caterpillar pest of indigo in Behar, II. M. Lefroy {Agv. Juiir. India, 

 J (IDOO). Xo. Jf. pp. .338-350, pi. 1. fi(j. J). — In some seasons the young indigo is 

 badly damaged by the attacks of Caradrina cd-Ujua. This insect is described 

 in its different stages with notes on its life history. The pest prevails in large 

 numbers in April and May. Occasionally the in.sect is found on alfalfa and other 

 crops, l)ut does not do as much damage on them as on indigo. According t<) 

 practical experience with this pest the Java-Natal indigo is almost immune 

 and it is recommended that this variety be planted instead of Sumatrana indigo. 

 In some locations the use of alfalfa as a trap crop may also give favorable 

 results. 



The red slug caterpillar; a serious pest of the tea plant, II. II. Mann 

 (Indian Tea Assoc, yaiiiphlet] .5, 1006, pp. 1.'/, pis. 2). — This pest was first ob- 

 served on tea in 1895 and has since become very injurious. The' eggs are laid 

 in masses on the under side of leaves or on the main trunk of tea bushes. The 

 egg-laying and hatching occupy about 12 days, while the larval period extends 

 over 5 weeks and the pupal period over 21 days. A number of natural enemies 

 are known, but these do not keep the pest in check. Unfortunately experiments 

 thus far carried on with arsenicals have given rather unsatisfactory results. 

 The pest may best be controlled by hand picking and this has been found to be 

 (luite a simple undertaking. The pest in question is referred to as Heterusia 

 cinf/alii. 



The production of golden colored pupas with Vanessa urticse and V. io, 

 PI Mensik (Ztschr. Ent.. n. scr., 1906, A'o. 31, pp. 15-lS). — The author acci- 

 dentally discovered a number of bright golden pupiB of Vanessa urtiav and some 

 of a lighter color in T. io. An attempt was made to produce this color by a 

 definite line of feeding the larvje. It was found that when larvpe of T^ itrticw 

 Vv'ere fed on nettle leaves from wet situations, the resulting pup;c showed a rich 

 golden color in from 8 to ?>0 per cent of eases. 



A supposed difference in the coloring matter of oak leaves and the silk 

 of Saturnia yamarniai, C Gautier (Coinpt. Rend. Hoc. Biol. [Paris], 61 

 (1906), No. 33, pp. -'il9, 'i.iO). — It has been maint.-iined that the green coloring 

 matter of the cocoon of the Hatnrnia yaniu-niai may be differentiated from the 

 chlorophyll of oak leaves by its insolubility in cold alcohol. The author shows, 

 however, th.nt both coloring matters are solul)Ie in the same reagents. 



Number of eggs of Samia cecropia, Pulvinaria innumerabilis, and Culex 

 pipiens, J. J. Davis (Ent. Netrs, 17 (1906), No. 10. pp. 36S, 369).— As a result 

 of repeated observations the author finds that the average number of eggs laid 

 by a female Samia cecropia is 24:>.9. for Piilrinaria inimnicrahilis 3,410.2, and for 

 Cule.r pipiens 178.4. 



Camnula pellucida (Coin. Par. Af/r. [Mexico], Circ. p'. pp. 7. ficis. (I). — This 

 grassbopi»er causes considerable injury to grasses and cultivated crops in Mexico. 

 In combating the pest the author recommends the cultivation of the breeding 

 grounds, the use of liopperdozers, and spraying with crude petroleum (»r Paris 

 green. 



A scale insect of the cocoanut palm, E. Fi.eutiatix (Ayr. Prat. Pai/s Chaiid^!. 

 6 {1906). \o. '//, i)p. 166-I6S). — In western Africa, particularly in Dahonw^y, a 

 scale insect was observed in lai'ge numbers on the cocoanut palm which proved 

 to be Aspidiotiis destruclor. A mixtui'e containing soda and resin is recom- 

 mended as a si)ray for liiis pest. 



