256 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOED. . 



die aud dry up progressively, the process extending to the larger roots and the 

 base of the trunk." It is stated that the trees are not affected when growing 

 under natural woodland conditions. 



The author concludes that the injury is caused in part by drought and un- 

 natural conditions of the tree, resulting in starvation, and in part by borers in 

 the trunk, attracted by the unthrifty state. The former is perhaps the primary 

 trouble in most cases. He considers fi-ee watering, fertilizing, and mulching of 

 the soil to be necessary, at least in severe drought. Care should be taken in 

 trimming trees and painting cut surfaces to prevent infestation ; the use of vari- 

 ous mixtures as rei^ellents to borers is also suggested. 



Brief descriptions are given, together with illustrations and the life histories, 

 of the elm borei {saperda tridentata) and the reddish elm snout beetle {Mag- 

 clalis armicollis), the insects chiefly concerned. 



The cotton stainer (Dysdercus suturellus), W. D. Hunter ( TJ. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Ent. Circ. 1^9, pp. 5, figs. 2). — D, suturellus, the only representative of 

 the genus which occurs in the United States, is not of very great importance on 

 account of its local restriction, but in Florida it is undoubtedly the most im- 

 portant cotton insect at the present time. Although it has a number of food 

 plants, the only ones of special importance aside from cotton are the orange and 

 the eggplant. Among the wild plants upon which this insect feeds are Hibiscus 

 sp., as well as several others including guava, Spanish cocklebur {Urena lobata), 

 and nightshade (Solarium nigrum). 



The feasible means of control of this insect, in the order of their importance, 

 vre as follows : "(1) The prevention of the growth of the weeds upon which the 

 cotton stainer breeds in gi'eat numbers; (2) the destruction, by means of kero- 

 sene and water, of the colonies of young bugs as soon as they make tlieir ap- 

 pearance during the growing season; and (3) the attracting of the insects to 

 small piles of cotton seed and their destruction when congregated in large 

 luimbers by means of hot water or kerosene." 



Observations on the life history of Enchenopa binotata, I. Matausch (Jour 

 N. Y. Ent. Soc, 20 (1912), No. 1, pp. 58-67, pis. 2).— This is an account of the 

 eggs, larvfe, and nymphal forms of the membracid E. binotata. 



Papers on Aphididse. — Studies on a new species of Toxoptera, with an 

 analytical key to the genus and notes on rearing- methods, W. J. Phillips 

 and J. J. Davis (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 25, pt. 1, tech. ser., pp. 16, pi. 1, 

 figs. 0). — Toxoptera muhlenbcrgiw, here described as new, first came under the 

 authors' attention on July 24, 1908, at which time it was collected at New Paris, 

 Ohio, on a si^ecies of Muhlenbergia. Later in the month it was found at Rich- 

 mond, Ind. The species is closely related to the so-called green bug, having at 

 first been mistaken for T. graminum. 



Technical descriptions of its stages are presented. It has been found through- 

 out northwestern and west-central Ohio and through east-central and northern 

 Indiana, and probably occurs in any location in which Muhlenbergia flourishes. 

 " Individuals of this species concentrate on the tender shoots and are rarely 

 found on the tough leaves unless the plants are badly infested. They congre- 

 gate in the curled central growing shoot. As this leaf expands and uufolds, 

 they go to the younger curled leaf just below this. When in great numbers, 

 they cause these tender shoots to wilt and turn yellow. Up to the present time 

 Muhlenbergia sp. appears to be the normal host, though this aphis often goes 

 to blue grass (Poa pratensis) when first hatched, since the young sometimes 

 appear before Muhlenbergia has started growth. Colonies have been estab- 

 lished on wheat, though they do not appear to thrive very well on it." 



Approximately 10^ generations per year are indicated by the investigations 

 here reported. " The period between birth and reproduction varies greatly, 



