248 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



British flies, G. H. Verrall (London. 1909, vol. 5. ijp. 780+3-'/, [A. 1. figs. 

 JfOl). — In this, tbe secoud voluine published on British tiies and the fifth of the 

 work on British Diptera, the families Stratiomyidje, Acanthomeridie, Leptidie, 

 Tabanidte. Nemestrlnidie, Cyrtidie, Bonibylidie, Therevidie, Seeuoitiuidte, My- 

 daidse, Apioceridie, and Asilid;ie are taken up. A systematic list of the Palte- 

 arctic Diptera Brachycera is appended. 



The mouth parts of the solitary bees, R. Demoll (Ztschr. Wiss. Zool., 91 

 (1908), No. 1, pp. 1-51. pis. 2, figs. 11). — This is a description of the mouth 

 parts of the solitary bees, accompanied by drawings and a bibliography. 



Notes on some western Orthoptera; with the description of one new 

 species, A. X, Caudell (Proc. U. S. Xat. Mus., 34 (1908), pp. 71-81). — This is 

 a record of collections of Orthoptera made on a trip through the western part 

 of the United States. The species Marsu tiiberculata collected at Eureka, Cal., 

 is described as new. 



Report of the State entomologist, E. F. Hitchings (Ann. Rpt, State Ent. 

 Maine, 3 {1907), pp. 105, pis. 20, figs. 11; Agr. of Maine, 1907, pp. 205-306, pis. 

 20, figs. 11 ) . — Brief notes are presented on the insects of the year. 



Many of the asters in nurseries are said to have been badly infested during 

 August by the plant louse Xectarophora amhrosiw. Conopthorus conipcnia was 

 received in twigs of the red pine. The tarnished plant bug (Li/gus pratcnsis) 

 was the source of injury to the buds of dahlias. The American silkworm 

 (Samia cecropia) was frequently received at the station. The buck moth 

 (Hemileuca inaia) occurs in a number of places in the State. Numerous letters 

 were received regarding the caterpillars of the lo moth (Automeris io), which 

 is common throughout Maine. The mourning cloak butterfly {Euvanessa 

 antiopa) has become a pest within the past few years. The maple borer 

 (Plaginotus speeiosiis) is said to be causing a great deal of damage to shade 

 trees. 



A nvimber of parasites which came under ol)servation during the year are 

 reported. The larvae of Vanessa atalanta were infested with the tachinid 

 Exorista futilis, tent caterpillars were badly attacked by Tacliina mella. and 

 red-humped caterpillars were parasitized by E. ehelonia. Several specimens 

 of the common Pimplas, P. pedalis and P. eonquisitor, emerged from the pupae 

 of the brown-tail moth. The tachinid Frontina frenchii is said to be a very 

 common enemy of the Cecropia, while Gryptus extrematis and Ophion hilineatus 

 were bred from this moth. 



A list is given of many of the insects that were taken under burlap in the 

 course of the gipsy moth work. A detailed account of the brown-tail and gipsy 

 moth work in the State is accompanied by numerous figures and original photo- 

 graphs. A brief report is iucluded of the State exhibitions of injurious insects 

 at fairs, of entomology in schools, and of publications and circular letters of 

 the year. The principal insects of the orchard are considered in connection 

 with a somewhat extended account of Elaine apple orcharding. 



Twelfth report of the State entomologist, F. L. Washburn (Rpt. State Ent. 

 Minn., 12 (1907-8), pp. X+205, pi. 1, figs. iOJ).— Much of the information here 

 presented has been noted from another source (E. S. R., 20, p. 1049) 



Many reports of grasshopper ravages were received during the jear. Direc- 

 tions for combating them by means of ho])perdozers, etc., and the Minnesota 

 grasshopper law as revised in 190.5 are given. 



Eggs of the spring grain aphis ( Toxoptera graminum) were found on grass at 

 St. Anthony Park April 7 and 23. 1908, showing that the eggs may survive the 

 winter in Minnesota. Records kept of the number of young produced by the 

 first individual born in each of 17 generations (between April 14 and August 25) 

 gave a total of 959, or an average of 57 per generation. A second series of 20 



