ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY, 959 



The recent progress and present conditions of economic entomology, L. O. 

 Howard (Science, n. scr., 26 (1907), No. 675, in). 7i>'J-79l).—A compreliensive 

 review is jiiven of the present status of eeonouiic entomology in tliis and foreign 

 countries and of tlie results obtained in the course of investigations which haA-e 

 been carried on in this Department, the agricultural -experiment stations, and 

 foreign entomological institutions. 



The future of economic entomology, H. T. Fernald (Pop, Sci. Mo., 72 

 (1908), Xo. .?, pp. I7.'f-178). — Attention is briefly called to the progress made in 

 applied entomology during the past 50 years. Effective methods for the control 

 of many of the most serious insect pests have been devised, but these methods 

 are followed by only a small percentage of farmers, so that the annual losses 

 from injurious insects are increasing. It is suggested that losses from this 

 source may be checked to some extent by the further utilization of insect para- 

 sites and by breeding resistant varieties of plants. 



Division of entomology, .J. Fletcher (Canada Expt. Farms Rpts. 1906, pp. 

 205-231, pi. 1). — During the year under report observations were made on a 

 large variety of insects injurious to field crops, garden crops, fruits, and forest 

 trees. Wheat was somewhat injured by the attacks of Bibio gracilis. Recom- 

 mendations were made regarding methods of control of cutworms in grain and 

 various other crops. Remedies are also suggested for use in combating potato 

 beetles, potato leaf aphis, asparagus beetles, codling moth, apple maggot, oyster- 

 shell bark-louse, San Jose scale, and white grubs. A few specimens of the 

 brown-tail moth have been found in Canada, and an outline is given of the life 

 history, habits, and suitable remedies for this pest in order to assist in checking 

 its spread. Among the forest insects upon which observations were made by 

 the author mention may be made of the spruce gall louse, fall webworm, tus- 

 sock moth, and white cedar twig-borer. 



Notes on insect, fungus, and other pests, R. S. Macdougal (Jour. Bd. Agr. 

 [London], I'f (1907), No. 8, pp. Jf77-J/SJi, fig. 1). — Brief economic notes are pre- 

 sented on corn sawfl5% Neuroterus Icnticularis, ajiple sawfly, and other pests. 

 For the control of apple sawfly, the author recommends handpicking from the 

 apple blossoms and the destruction of all infested apples. 



Insect injuries in the spring of 1907, L. Reh (Nat u no. Ztschr. Land u. 

 FoTHtw., 5 (1907), No. 10, pp. 492-497). — ^An account is given of injuries due to 

 white grubs, Cheimatobia brumata, Tortrix viridana, brown-tail moth, and spe- 

 cies of Chermes. Brief mention is also made of the work of insectivorous birds. 



The entomological section, C. W. Howard and F. Thomsen (Transvaal Agr. 

 Jour., 5 (1907), No. 20, pp. 947-958, pis. 5). — During the year under report par- 

 ticular attention was gi\en to the brown locust and red locust, the agricultural 

 department of the Transvaal carrying on demonstration tests in cooperation 

 with farmers in their eradication. The best results were obtained by the appli- 

 cation of arsenical sprays to the young locusts befoi-e they were able to fly. 



The destruction of cockroaches, bedbugs, and other household insects by 

 means of hydrocyanic-acid gas is briefly described. It is recommended that 

 1 oz. of potassium cyanid and 1 oz. of sulphuric acid be used for each 100 cu. ft. 

 of space. For fumigating poultry houses to destroy ticks the strength of the 

 mixture may be 3 times greater. A brief account is also given of Bengalia 

 dcprrssa which attacks man. 



The entomological section, C. W. Howard and F. Thomsen (Transvaal Agr. 

 Jour., 6 (1907), No. 21, pp. 85-102, pis. 5, figs. .'?).-— An elaborate series of tests 

 was made to determine suitable materials for treating wood to jn'otect it 

 against the attacks of white ants. It was found that any arsenical solution is 

 eflicient. Good results were also obtained from tar, creosote, and carbolic acid. 



