562 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



colonized itself in the field ; Canidiella curculionis, wbich oviposits in the larvae 

 of the alfalfa weevil in different stages of development; Phygadeuon sp. ; an 

 undetermined species, probably Mesochorus nigripes; and Itoplectis masculator 

 were also introduced from Italy. An additional species (Uemiteles sp.) about 

 which very little is known may prove to be either a primary or secondary 

 parasite. A list is given of 31 species of birds found by E. R. Kalmbach to 

 feed upen the alfalfa weevil in Utah during 1911. From observations made in 

 the vicinity of Salt Lake City on June 13, it is estimated the one-fifth of the 

 cocoons contained larvae or pupse killed by the fungus Empusa splucrospenna. 



The rice water-weevil and methods for its control (Lissorhoptrus simplex), 

 B. S. TucKEE ([/. /S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. Circ. 15^, pp. 20, figs. 2).— This cir- 

 cular, based upon investigations conducted by C. E. Hood in 1910 and the 

 author in 1911 in cooperation with the Louisiana Station, summarizes the 

 available practical information concerning the weevil and measures for its 

 control. 



This insect is stated to be the most serious enemy of rice in the Southern 

 States. In the larval stage it is known to rice growers as the " rice root- 

 maggot." In this stage it coimuits severe injury to rice plants by destroying 

 the roots ; some harm is done by the adults in feeding on the leaves. General 

 statements of the shortage of production caused by this pest vary from as low 

 as 1 per cent at Beaumont, Tex., to 75 per cent in some fields at Stuttgart, Ark. 

 In addition to cultivated rice its food plants include arrowhead, bulrush, 

 galingale, water lily, spatter-dock, wild rice (Zizama aquaiica), Walter's 

 swale grass (Paspalum moiibranaceiim) , etc. The weevil swims readily on or 

 beneath the surface and feeds, rests, and mates almost as frequently in the 

 v^'ater as above it. 



" The insect chooses food plants that grow in wet places and it breeds only 

 where it finds water. Eggs are evidently laid on roots in water or mud, under 

 which conditions the larvje hatch, feed, grow, and transform into pupje, and 

 finally the adults mature and emerge. Two generations may possibly be pro- 

 duced in a season, but one generation seems to be the rule. Adults pass the 

 winter in hibernation, appearing in spring and invading the rice fields. 



" The most pi'actical means of controlling the weevil consists in the practice 

 of draining and allowing infested rice fields to dry sufficiently at the proper 

 time or before the attacks of the larvae have greatly weakened the plants. 

 Alternate flooding and drying, if carried out properly, will accomplish the same 

 results. Very shallow flooding or soaking of fields restrains infestation. Ferti- 

 lization assists the plant to overcome injury. Considerable numbers of weevils 

 can be capturetl at lights and destroyed, and the possibility of poisoning them 

 in fields needs to be put to the test. Cultural management should be directed 

 with the view of enforciiig every advantage against the w'cevil that will be 

 consistent with the welfare of the crop." 



Mexican cotton boll weevil, W. D. Hunter and W. D. Pieece ( U. 8. Senate, 

 62. Cong., 2. Sess., Doc. 305, 1912, pp. 188, pis. 22, figs. S.)).— This bulletin, pre- 

 pared as Bulletin 114 of the Bureau of Entomology of this Department, and 

 which is an elaboration of Bulletin 51 (E. S. R., 17, p. 101), gives a compre- 

 hensive account of the more importiint available information concerning the 

 boll weevil. Since 1905 the work on the investigation of this important pest 

 has been continuefl by the Bureau of Entomology and by various other agencies. 

 As a resut of this recent work, certain features of the life history of the pest 

 have received full treatment in publications of the Bureau, previously noted, 

 as is the case with hibernation (E. S. 11., 21, p. 701). natural control (E. S. R.. 

 19. p. 756), parasites (E. S. R., 27, p. 59), proliferation (E. S. R., IS, p. 251), 

 and repression (E. S. R., 20, p. 853). 



