56 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.36 



the line in Texas and two colonies were found during 1915 in southern New 

 Mexico. Many cultivated crops are now attacked in addition to range grasses. 

 The authors conclude that its present destructive abundance is due to the 

 reduction in numbers of its natural enemies through some severe climatic con- 

 dition. 



The introduction of natural enemies appears to be the only practical measure 

 in control work on the range. As a result of this work a number of insect 

 enemies of the pest appear to have become established. The native natural 

 enemies also are now beginning to assert themselves again. 



The small pink corn worm (Batrachedra rileyi) in Mississippi, R. W. 

 Hakned {Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 (1916), No. 2, pp. 295-'^98, figs. 2).— This pest, an 

 account of which by Chittenden has been previously noted (E. S. R., 35, p. 256), 

 attracted more attention during the previous 14 months than any other occur- 

 ring in Mississippi. During November and December, 1914, hundreds of com- 

 plaints in regard to the work of this insect In stored corn were received, most 

 of which came from the central part of the State. 



Control of the varieg-ated cutworm in Ventura County, California, G. E. 

 Bensel (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 (1916), No. 2, pp. SOS-306, pis. 5).— The variegated 

 cutworm is widely distributed in Ventura County, Cal., where it has done con- 

 siderable damage to the sugar beet crop since April, 1913, when the first serious 

 outbreak occurred. The methods of control mentioned include application of 

 arsenicals, ditching, and trapping the moths by lights. 



A coccid-feeding moth, (Blastobasis) Holcocera iceryseella, E. O. EssiG 

 (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 (1916), No. S, pp. 369, 370, pi. l).—ln addition to the black 

 scale and cottony cushion scale recorded by Riley as hosts of this moth, the 

 author has found the European peach scale (Lecatiium persicce), the greedy 

 scale (Aspidiotus camellia), and Baker's mealy bug (Pseudococcus bakeri) 

 to serve as hosts at Berkeley, Cal. 



Additional notes on the use of dust sprays ag'ainst the corn-ear worm, 

 J. W. McCoLLOCH (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 (1916), No. 4, pp. S95-S98).— Further 

 work by the author (E. S. R., 34, p. 63) has led to the following conclusions: 



"The percentage of corn-ear worm and mold injury decreases as the number 

 of dustings are increased. The cost of dusting is prohibitive where corn is 

 grown for grain or forage but Is practical where corn is raised for roast- 

 ing ears, show purposes, or for seed corn. Sulphur is superior to flour or 

 lime as a carrier for arsenate of lead and there is some indication that it 

 also serves as a fungicide. Fifty per cent arsenate of lead does not control 

 the corn-ear worm so effectively as does 75 per cent arsenate of lead." 



Bucculatrix thurberiella, a pest of cotton in the Imperial Valley, E. A. Mc- 

 Gregor (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 (1916). No. 5, pp. 505-510, pis. 2). — The larvae of 

 this tineid moth were found in June, 1916, devouring the leaves of cotton in 

 fields in eight localities in the Imperial Valley, Cal., indicating that it occurs 

 in every cultivated part of the valley. It was found in every cotton field 

 examined and In some fields every leaf was attacked by it. 



Economic Syrphidse in California, W. M. Davidson (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 

 (1916), No. 5, pp. -i54--i57). — A brief discussion of the syrphus flies of economic 

 importance In California. 



Dispersion of Musca domestica under city conditions in Montana, R. R. 

 Parker (Jour. Econ. Ent., 9 (1916), No. 3, pp. 325-354, pis. 4).— This is a de- 

 tailed report of dispersion studies carried on in Miles City, Mont, during the 

 season of 191.5. In that city, the built-up portion of which is about 1.5 miles 

 square, 387,877 marked flies were liberated from four release points. Of these 

 a total of 1,056 were recaptured at 78 stations which varied from 50 to 3,500 



