ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 253 



The so-called tobacco -wireworm in Virginia, G. A. Runnee ( U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Bui. 78 {1914), pp. 30, pis. 2, figs. 5).— This is a report of studies of the 

 tobacco Crambus (Crambus caliginoscllus) conducted during the last 4 years 

 largely at a field station at Appomattox, Va. 



This pest occurs throughout the eastern United States from Canada south 

 to the Gulf Coast States, and in most, if not all, of the tobacco-growing districts 

 of the Eastern States, but appears to be most destructive in certain sections 

 of Maryland and Virginia, and especially in the famous " dark tobacco district " 

 of the Piedmont section of middle Virginia. In Virginia the damage to the 

 tobacco crop alone by the insect is estimated to average at least $800,000 annu- 

 ally, and it is also the source of considerable injury to the corn plant. 



Tobacco is attacked soon after planting, and feeding by the larv.ne continues 

 until the first or second week in July. As feeding continues the larvae, which 

 commence operations just below the surface of the ground, frequently enter the 

 Btalk and tunnel upward, the burrows often extending to the base of the first 

 leaves. Although the plants often partially recover they do not attain full 

 growth. In their attack upon corn the larvne commence near the surface of the 

 ground and burrow into the base of the stalks, the outer portion of the stalk 

 being frequently girdled. Injury to corn has been noted in many localities 

 whore little tobacco is grown and its damage to this crop probably amounts to 

 more than that to tobacco. 



Technical descriptions are given of the several stages of this species and a 

 detailed report of life history studies. 



At Appomattox the moths which emerge during the summer appear in great- 

 est numbers during the first and second weeks in August. There appears to be 

 but a single generation a year. 



The eggs, which are deposited in weedy fields during July and August, hatch 

 in a few days. The larvfe remain in the soil over winter and complete their 

 growth during June and July of the following year, feeding most actively at 

 the time the tobacco or corn is planted. The injury to these crops occurs when 

 they are planted on land which was weedy during the previous season, crops 

 planted on land.. which has been under clean cultivation being immune. Buck- 

 horn plantain, oxeye daisy, stickweed, and whitetop are the weeds which have 

 been found to be the most common natural feod plants of the worms. 



Several carabid beetles are mentioned as natural enemies. The subter- 

 ranean habits and the protection afforded by the loose web in which the worms 

 usually lie when not feeding appear to protect them largely from parasites. 

 The investigations show that the worms when once established in land where 

 their natural food plants are abundant are dilficult to control". Various in- 

 secticides and repellents have been tested but without satisfactory results. 

 Fall or winter plowing has been found to reduce the injury but is only partially 

 effective, as most of the weeds remain alive and furnish food for the larvae 

 until the tobacco or corn is planted. " Damage is best prevented by crop rota- 

 tions, or by cultural methods that prevent growth of the weeds which are food 

 plants of the worms, thus making conditions unfavorable for egg deposition by 

 the moths the summer before tobacco or com is planted. Summer plowing, 

 thorough preparation of weedy land, and the growing of crops of cowpeas or 

 crimson clover, preferably cowpeas, the year before crops subject to injury are 

 planted, have been found to be most satisfactory and practical means of control." 



A bibliography of 19 titles is appended. 



A new frtiit boring caterpillar of bananas occurring at Tweed Heads 

 (Heteromicta latro), E. Jabvis (Queensland Agr. Jour., n. ser., 1 (1914), No. 4, 

 pp. 280-284, fig. 1). — This lepidopterau, hitherto unrecorded as of economic 



