• ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 453 



of 8° F. does not kill the iiisocts, and as soon as the teuiperature rises to from 

 40 to 50° they go on reprodncing. Liisiphhhiis tritici was found to reproduce 

 parthenogenetically. 



The insect pests of clover and alfalfa, J. W. Folsom (Illinois 8ta. Bui. 134, 

 pp. 113-lUl. phs. 2, fi<js. So). — This is an account of the most injurious of the 

 clover insects and of some of the less important species, based upon investiga- 

 tions extending over a liieriod of 3 summers. 



In addition to bumblebees the author considers the longer-tongued honeybees 

 (those of the Italian races) to play an important part in the fertilization of 

 red clover. Three insects, the seed midge, the seed chalcid, and the seed cater- 

 pillar must be guarded against if a good crop of seed is desired. 



The clover-seed midge {Dasi/ncura [Cccidoiinjia] JcguminicoJa) prevents the 

 formation of seed. At the time of blossoming the florets affected by this insect 

 remain for the most part green and undeveloped, and their ovaries are hollowed 

 out and empty, or else contain each a small orange, pink, or whitish maggot. 

 Having entered the flower bud the maggot consumes the fluid contents of the 

 ovary before the bud has a chance to open. The eggs are always laid In green 

 flower heads. The chief food plant of the species is red clover, but white clover 

 is also affected. The most effective and most practicable preventive is to cut 

 the first crop of clover as early as possible in order to secure a good seed crop 

 at the expense of a slight reduction in the hay crop. 



The clover-seed chalcid {Bruchophagu.^ funehris), formerly supposed to be 

 a parasite of the seed midge, eats out the clover seeds and reduces the seed 

 crop materially. Eed clover is its chief food, though crimson clover is badly 

 affected. Alfalfa is another food plant, but of minor importance. The insect 

 passes the winter inside the seed on the ground cliiefly as a larva. " To sum- 

 marize: The May and June adults lay their eggs in the first growth of second- 

 year red clover, and most of the adults derived from these eggs appear in July 

 and August, but some of them do not issue until the following May or June. 

 The Julj' and August adults lay their eggs in the second growth, and some of 

 the adults from these appear during the same season ; the rest not until the 

 following year. The later the eggs are laid tlie larger the proportion of indi- 

 viduals to lie over until the next year. The adults have two times of greatest 

 abundance, falling near June 12 and August 12, respectively. This does not 

 mean only two generations, however, but, instead, two lots of individuals." 

 Early cutting in June will hasten the maturity of the seed crop in a way 

 to prevent most of the midsummer oviposition. Volunteer clover should be 

 destroyed. 



The clover-seed caterpillar {Enarmonla [Grapholitha] intcrstinctana) de- 

 stroys the unopened buds and tender green seeds by eating out a cavity in the 

 head. Red clover is the chief food plant, but white clover is also affected, and 

 the species has been reared from alsike clover. As a remedy for the attack 

 it is recommended that the crop be cut and stored early in June. 



The pea or clover louse (Macrosiphum pisi), the dominant species of aphid 

 on these plants, is the source of considei'able injury. Numerous enemies of the 

 pest are mentioned. Spring pasturing or clipping of the clover will check its 

 multiplication. The clover-leaf weevil (Phytonomus punctatus) is oi'dinarily 

 held in check by a great variety of adverse influences and seldom gets control 

 of the plant. The clover-root borer {HyhiHtinus obscurus) is gradually spread- 

 ing over the United States and has already ruined crops of clover in several 

 States. 'The clover-hay worm [Hypsopyyia costalis) is widely distributed In 

 Illinois and has done no little damage in various parts of the State. If the 

 pest is present in a barn, old refuse clover hay should be removed and burned. 



