ENTOMOLOGY. 1065 



Experiments with summer remedies against chinch bugs demon- 

 strated the efficacy of the barrier and post-hole method. To protect a 

 field from the advancing chinch bugs a dust furrow is made along the 

 side of the field. The chinch bugs have great difficulty in crossing a 

 dry dusty furrow and crawl along the furrow to find an avenue of 

 escape. In so doing they fall into post holes, which it is recommended 

 to dig at intervals as traps for the accumulating chinch bugs. A coal- 

 tar line about three- fourths inch broad is said to be as effective as the 

 dust furrow, provided the tar -line be freshened two or three times per 

 day. Salt saturated with kerosene is said to have been quite ineffectual 

 as a barrier. 



After an extended discussion of the causes of unusual outbreaks of 

 the chinch bugs, the author observes that — 



"As a general result of these investigations, we certainly have no warrant for assert- 

 ing that the. natural agencies effective in reducing an extraordinary outbreak of the 

 chinch bug can now be definitely controlled by us for economic ends. So far as 

 ascertained the final causes of unusual natural destruction of this insect are meteoro- 

 logical; and until the weather of the season, or even of the year, can be foretold 

 with approximate definiteness and certainty, we can not forecast the course of events 

 with respect to injuries by the chinch bug." 



A species of solitary wasp (Odynerusforaminatus) is recorded as fre- 

 quently building its mud nests in the opening for the escape of air from 

 the retaining valve of automatic brakes such as are used on freight 

 trains. As a remedy it is suggested that the passageway from the 

 valve be made angular or slit-like. 



An apparently new and undetermined disease is said to have caused 

 great destruction of the army worm. The nature of the disease was 

 not discovered, but one of its most marked peculiarities is said to be 

 the degeneration of the fatty bodies of the caterpillars. 



The account of the white-pine Chermes (Chermes pinicorticis) includes 

 a list of its food plants, its economic importance, feeding habits, and 

 distribution. Among the natural enemies of the Chermes are men- 

 tioned Syrphus sp. ? Ghryropa robertsoni, Hemerobius alternans, Leu- 

 copis simplex, Chilocorus birulnerus, and Megilla maculata. The only 

 artificial remedy which was tried was kerosene emulsion. It was applied 

 in May and proved very effective. 



Thirteenth report of the State entomologist on injurious and 

 other insects of the State of New York, 1897, J. A. Lintner 

 (Fifty-first An. Rpt. New York State Mm., 1897, pp. 327-390, pis. 2, figs. 

 2). — The red-breasted sawfly (Tenthredo rufopectus) is reported as a 

 new currant pest. The larva of this sawfly, unlike the larva of most 

 sawflies, is recorded as having the habit of boring in the stems of cur- 

 rants and of being found in company with the currant-stem girdler in 

 such situations. A brief account is given of the life history and habit 

 of the insect so far as known and of its distribution. As to remedies, 

 "the wilted tips should be watched for in the early spring, and as 

 soon as seen should be cut off a little below the place of injury. If the 

 attack should escape attention till soincs time after the dropping of the 



