ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 657 



is parasitic on Aphis maidis. It has been propagated by the writer for several 

 months and is found to be highly efficient. In several lots examined, about 90 

 per cent of the plant lice had succumbed. . . . 



" Com is almost invariably attacked by a small leaf hopper, Percgrinus 

 maidis, which is often so abundant on small plants as to effect a rapid withering 

 of the plants and ultimately their complete destruction. The injury they do 

 results from their draining the leaves of sap and slitting the midrib for the 

 insertion of their eggs. The se'cretive habits of these leaf hoppers makes it 

 very difficult to control them by artificial means." Little success has been had 

 in the control of the leaf hopper with the use of sprays. 



Plusia chalcites is especially injurious to young plants and Amorhia emigra- 

 tella, a leaf roller, is found on plants in all stages of growth. Neither of these 

 is considered particularly destructive to corn, since they are both very general 

 feeders. Balrachedra rileyi, Cryptoblahes alicna, nitidulid beetle larvfe, and 

 the coffee bean weevil (Arwcerus fasciculatus) commonly infest the ears of 

 corn. The Angoumois grain moth and the rice weevil are said to be the most 

 important enemies of stored grain. 



Insect notes, H. A. Ballou (Agr. Neivs [Barbados], 11 {1912), Nos. 270, pp. 

 282, 283, fig. 1; 211, p. 298, figs. 4).— The author reports observations made dur- 

 ing the course of a trip to St. Kitts to study the insect enemies of sugar cane. 

 The first paper discusses the injury to cane caused by Tennes flavipcs; the 

 second discusses Lachnosterna patriielis, which occurs in considerable numbers, 

 and a new root borer that is also quite common. 



Insects injurious to mushrooms, C. H. Popenoe (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Ent. 

 Circ. 155, pp. 10, figs. 1). — The insects which more commonly attack mush- 

 rooms are maggots, mites, springtails, and sowbugs, the first mentioned being 

 the most generally injurious. The mycetophilids Sciara multiscta and 8. 

 agraria and the phorid AphiocliaHa albidihalteris are the species attracting the 

 most attention as pests. In combating these maggots measures should be un- 

 dertaken early in the season which will eliminate them from the mushroom 

 house and prevent their subsequent entrance. They may be prevented from 

 gaining entrance in manure ft-om compost beds by heating to a temperature of 

 150° F. Fumigation with bisulphid of carbon just previous to planting the 

 mushi'ooms is also productive of good results in destroying the maggots in the 

 compost. Fumigation with tobacco is one of the best methods of destroying the 

 adults. 



The mushroom mite {Tyroglyplius lintneri) at times becomes so abundant in 

 mushroom beds as to cover the surface of the compost and when present in 

 such numbers is extremely destructive, feeding upon the mushrooms in all 

 stages and penetrating the beds and destroying the mycelium. It is thought 

 to be the cause in many cases of the failure of the spawn to grow. Besides 

 the injury to the mycelium they cause damage to the fruiting bodies by eating 

 into them, distorting or destroying the young growth. Under certain conditions 

 the hypopus or migratory stage of this mite is produced. By means of suck- 

 ing disks on the ventral surface of the body it attaches itself to insects and is 

 transported to suitable breeding grounds in other localities, resulting in its 

 appearance in localities far from previously infested beds. This mite may also 

 obtain access to mushroom houses in infested compost or in spawn from in- 

 fested houses. It is but little affected by fumigants suitable for the control 

 of other mushroom pests, and the only measures applicable appear to be those 

 of prevention. A predaceous mite belonging to the Gamasidse frequently occurs 

 in beds infested by the mushroom mite, feeding upon the latter and at times 

 becoming so numerous as to entirely wipe out the pest. 



