658 EXPEKIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Springtails (Achoreutes armatum), which are present in almost all manure, 

 where they feed on the decaying vegetation present, at times become quite 

 injurious in mushroom houses. Mention is made of an outbreak of this pest 

 in St. Louis, Mo., in which a bed 150 ft. in length was completely destroyed. 

 Fumigation with hydrocyanic-acid gas at a strength of from 3 to 6 ounces to 

 each 1,000 cu. ft. of air space will reduce their numbers without injuring the 

 mycelium. 



Two species of sowbugs, the greenhouse pfllbug {ArmadilUdium vuJgare) 

 and dooryard sowbug (PorceUio kevis), may become the source of injury 

 through their attacks on the caps or fruiting bodies of the mushrooms. The 

 remedies mentioned include hand picking, pouring hot water along the cracks 

 in the boards and in other places where the bugs may be concealed by day, 

 and treatment with sulphur dioxid after the mushroom crop has been harvested 

 and the compost removed. The plastering of the wet surface of cut potatoes 

 with Paris green and laying them about on the beds is frequently successful in 

 entirely ridding the houses of this pest. Certain crickets are also said to eat 

 into the caps of the mushrooms, Ceuthophilus pacificus being mentioned as caus- 

 ing extensive injury to cultivated mushroom beds on the Pacific coast. 



In summarizing the circular the author calls attention to the fact that the 

 building should be as tight as possible with few outlets and screened with fine 

 wire gauze. 



The leopard moth and other insects injurious to shade trees in the vicinity 

 of Boston, J. W. Chapman (Canibndge, Mass.: Harvard Univ., 1911, pp. 51, 

 pjs. 7). — This paper, consisting of 3 parts, is based upon the studies conducted 

 by the author in large part in the college yard of Harvard University. 



Part 1 (pp. 6-29) is devoted to the leopard moth {Zeuzcra pyriaa), its his- 

 tory, descriptions of its stages, life histoi-y and habits, economic importance, 

 natural enemies, and suggestions in regard to control, with a bibliography of 

 31 titles. In combating the pest the author finds pruning and the cutting back 

 of all infested parts to be very effective if the larvte have not secured too great 

 a hold on the trees and can not be reached individually with applications of 

 carbon bisulphid or through the use of a wire. This is said to be most effective 

 where the young larvse are just beginning to show in the twigs and tips of small 

 branches which wilt and die. They can be successfully reached by a pair of 

 hooks such as aie ordinarily used to remove the nests of the brown-tail moth. 

 The author reports having taken 300 larvfe in this manuer from a single elm. 

 Bisulphid should be used, if iwssible, in all cases where the larvae can not be 

 reached by use of a wire. Other substances besides putty and grafting wax 

 which may be used for stopping the holes are clay, coal tar, and in some 

 instances a wooden plug driven into the hole and then sjawed off close to the 

 bark. The pupa, like the larva, can be destroyed by a wire, carbon bisulphid. 

 or by simply closing the opening to the outside. Since the moths are attracted 

 to light, a large number may be destroyed in this way. 



In part 2 (pp. 30-40) tlie author describes and discusses the life history and 

 habits, economic importance, etc., of the elm bark-beetle (Eccoptagaster multi- 

 striata), a preliminary account of which has been previously noted (E. S. R., 

 23, p. 564). A bibliograiihy of 22 titles is included. 



In part 3 (pp. 41-45) brief notes are given on the carpenter moth (Prio- 

 noxystus roMnur), elm-bark borer {Ili/lcsinns opaculus), elm-leaf miner {Kalio- 

 fenusa iilmi), elm-leaf beetle {OalenweUa lutcola), oyster-shell bark-louse, 

 San Jos6 scale, white-marked tussock moth, elm-gall louse (Colopha ulinicola), 

 woolly elm-tree louse {ScJiizoncura rilcyi), and brown-tail moth. In an appendix 

 food plants of the leopard moth are listed by families. 



