ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 751 



of f()(i(l (luriiiL,' (lie l.'ill. the iHTcontaKo of mortality anioiifj them may be greatly 

 iucr eased. ' 



The cotton worm is considered of some l)enefit in this regard, since its chief 

 attack is made upon the cotton plant late in the season, thus destroying the 

 leaves and other edibU' parts upon which the weevils might otherwise feed. The 

 same result may be brought about by cattle grazing. 



The mortality of cotton-boll weevils during hibernation is so great in some 

 instances that not more than Ilk to 15 per cent survive. The maximum rate 

 of mortality in weevils occurs in December or January and is increased by large 

 rainfalls. 



The emergence of the maximum number of weevils takes place in Texas 

 from May 20 to June 1. Notes are given on various other points in the biology 

 of the cotton-boll weevil, including sunnner broods, rate of increase, injury to 

 cotton squares, etc. 



Notes on the biology of certain weevils related to the cotton-boll weevil, 

 W. 1). PiKKCK (T. ,S'. Dcpf. A</r.. Bur. Ent. Bill. 6A. pi. .L />/>. A9-',',. pi. J).— It is 

 assumed that parasites useful in controlling the cotton-boll weevil may be found 

 by studying its nearest relatives. On this account biologic^il and economic 

 notes ai'e gixn-n on Aiitlioiioiiiu.s disjiaictici. A. fiilviis. A. s(iiiu)ii()fiiis, Li.run 

 inunculus, OrtJiorls rrotcliii, etc. 



An ant enemy of the cotton-boll weevil, W. E. Hinds (f/. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Ent. BvL 63, pt. 3, pp. '/J-^S, flg. 1). — Among the native species of ants 

 which prey upon the cotton-boll weevil, Solenopsis geniinata xyloni is consideretl 

 to be the most important. This ant is described and notes are given upon its 

 Iiredaceous habits. It eats holes into infested squares and destroys the cotton- 

 boll weevil in such siiuares in whatever stage they may be found. Among 137 

 siiuares entered by ants not a single weevil escaped destruction. The ants 

 nest in the cotton held and appear to be widely distributed through the cotton 

 belt including Texas and western Louisiana. 



A predatory bug reported as an enemy of the cotton-boll weevil, A. ('. 

 Morgan {l\ S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 63. pt. ',. pp. .',0-0.',. figs. 2).— A report 

 was received that Apioiiierus spissipes was attacking the cotton-boll weevil. .V 

 study was made of this bug, giving attention to its life history, food hal)its, 

 distribution, and natural enemies. 



The results were unfavorable to the supposition that Ihc bug is of value in 

 controlling the cotton-boll weevil. It is conu)aratively rare in cotton fields 

 es])ecially during the time when the weevils are most numerous and the young 

 bugs show a high rate of mortality. 



The brown-tail moth and the gypsy moth in New Hampshire in 1906, 

 10. I). S.WDKKSo.N ••iiid L. (). IIowAiiii { Xrir II (UiipKliirc Slit, liiil. /,?N, />//. lit- !3<i. 

 ftiis. N). A stnli'ineiit is nuKle of the siJi'ead iind present (list rii)ution of llie 

 brow ii-tail moth .iiid of the wori; which has been done ii.v various towns in 

 combating it. During tiie season of 1905-(> about $(5,CX)0 was si)ent by th(> towns 

 in New llanipsliire in this work. The best results are obtained from the de- 

 struction of winter webs, lint s|n-aying is effective if done in early May. 



The State has not taken up the control of the gyi)sy moth and work thus far 

 done against this insect has been undcM' I lie sni)ervision of this Department. 

 The present status of the gypsy moth in .\ew Hampshire is outlined. It is 

 estimated that the preliminary work of ins])ection will cost about .$!.")() per town : 

 laitting on burlaps and attending them I'or li months, ,$1,(MM) per town; and tlii; 

 total cost of thorough work of control about .^2,000 jier town. 



The oyster-shell scale, T. B. Symons (Maryland Sta. Bui. 111. pp. ol-KJ. 

 figs. 8). — During the past 2 years the oyster-shell scale has attacked and de- 

 stroyed a large number of nuiture maple trees. The insect is found chiefly 



