156 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



A preliminary study of Kentucky localities in which pellagra is prevalent, 

 H. Gabman {Kentucky Sta. Bui. 159, pp- 3-79, pis. 27, figs. 24).— Within the 

 past 2 years pellagra has attracted attention in some of the mountain counties 

 of Kentucky from which a number of people have been sent to the state asylum 

 at Lexington. At the I'equest of a conference of medical men of the State the 

 author visited the region where pellagra is prevalent with a view to determin- 

 ing whether any fly occurs there that might convey the disease. Several days 

 were spent at Corbin in the latter part of August and in September, and at 

 Pineville in October, in studying the localities in which pellagrous cases are 

 located and giving special attention to the streams in the region as breeding 

 places of the flies. The results of the investigation are here presented and dis- 

 cussed at length under the following headings: The streams, the insects, etc., 

 found in the streams, including Simulidse, Chironomidfe, Culicidse, Tipulidae, 

 Tabanidfe, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Trichoptera, Neuroptera, Ephemerida, Odon- 

 ata, Plectoptera, Arachnida, Protozoa, Crustacea, Bryozoa or Polyzoa, Vermes, 

 Mollusca, fishes and amphibians, also vegetation in and about the streams, and 

 bacteria. 



The work concludes with a discussion of the corn crops along the streams, the 

 effect of moldy corn on stock, and the presentation of Dr. Sambon's theory of 

 the transmission of pellagra by simulids. 



The sand flies discussed are Simiiliictn venustum, 8. pecuarum, 8. pictipcs, 8. 

 meridUmaJe, and 8. rcptans. The author states that he has not at any time 

 committed himself to the insect theory of the spread of pellagra, is not satis- 

 fied with the evidence, and in this bulletin has simply presented facts which 

 may bear upon the problem. 



The pear thrips, P. J. Parbott (New York 8tate 8ta. Bui. Sf/S, pp. 3-28, 

 pis. 5, figs. 5). — This is a report of investigations of Euthrips pyri, which, as 

 reported in the account previously noted (E. S. R., 25, p. 658), has become the 

 source of considerable injury to fruit at points in the Hudson River Valley, 

 as well as in California (E. S. R., 24, p. 455). 



The author concludes from investigations conducted that the pest has been a 

 source of injury in the Hudson River Valley for a period of some 5 years. 

 " The most severe attack of the thrips occurred during 1910, when the pear 

 crop in many orchards was much reduced. Besides losses in yields the trees 

 were seriously checked by injuries to leaf buds and leaf clusters; and in some 

 orchards the season was much advanced before the trees presented normal con- 

 ditions of growth. The productiveness of pear orchards during 1911 was greater 

 than the preceding year, but blighting of blossom clusters was general and 

 orchards suffered losses in yields according to the severity of the attacks by 

 the thrips." 



" The adult insect attacks the developing buds, which checks the natural growth, 

 and blossom clusters most seriously affected eventually fall.. The deposition 

 of eggs in the fruit stems weakens the stems, causing the young fruit to drop. 

 The quality of prunes that mature may also be impaired by the feeding of the 

 larvae on the skin of the fruit causing a diseased condition known as * scab.' 

 The Napoleon Bigarreau and Black Tartarian cherries and Imperial prune are 

 among the varieties known to New York fruit growers that are attacked by the 

 thrips. Almonds, apricots, and peaches, while also subject to injuries, do not 

 usually sustain such serious losses unless the thrips are very numerous." Dur- 

 ing 1911 it was observed in New York chiefly on apples, apricots, cherries, 

 peaches, pears, plums, and quinces. "Apples were generally infested with thrips, 

 but the destruction of blossom clusters was not so common as with the pears. 

 In spite of the presence of large numbers of the thrips in the buds there was 

 usually a large setting of apples. While all of the leading commercial varieties 



