156 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. [Vol. 36 



sprayed with arsenate of lead at the rate of 2 lbs. of the paste or 1 lb. of the 

 powdered article to 50 gal. of water, shortly after the blossoms have fallen. 



A bibliography of 26 titles is included. 



Tinea cloacella as a mushroom pest, A. Krausse (Ztschr. Forst u. Jagdio., 

 48 {1916), No. 2, pp. 73-78, figs. 12). — This reports morphological and biological 

 studies of T. cloacella, which was found to develop in an edible mushroom, 

 Boletus erlulis. 



Experiments during 1915 in the destruction of fly larvae in horse manure, 

 F. C. Cook and R. H. Hutchison (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 408 (1916), pp. 20). ~ 

 This bulletin reports the results of investigations carried on during 1915 in 

 continuation of those of 1913 and 1914, previously noted (E. S. R., 33, p. 455). 

 During the fly season the larvicidal action of infusions of 18 plant materials 

 was. tested, none of which, with the exception of hellebore, was sufficiently 

 economical and effective to be classed as a practical larvicide. 



Summarizing the results of the three seasons' work, it is stated that borax, 

 used at the rate of § lb. to 10 gal. of water and sprinkled over 8 bu. of manure, 

 is the least expensive and the most effective larvicide. It is pointed out that 

 caution should be used, however, in treating manure to be used for agricul- 

 tural purposes because of the injurious action on plant growth of excessive ap- 

 plications of borax. Powdered hellebore, used at the rate of 0.5 lb. to 10 gal. 

 of water on 8 bu. of manure, is an effective larvicide and without action on 

 plant growth. The indications are that calcium cyanamid, acid phosphate, and 

 kainit mixtures can be used as effective larvicides if 0.5 lb. of calcium cyanamid 

 is present in the mixture per bushel of manure treated. 



The response of the house fly (Musca domestica) to ammonia and other 

 substances, C. H. Richardson (New Jersey Stas. Bui. 292 {1916), pp. S-19). — 

 The studies here reported, preliminary accounts of which have been previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 34, p. 160; 35, p. 466), have led to the following conclusions: 



House flies are attracted to fermenting organic substances largely by the 

 odor of ammonia, a product of this fermentation. Ammonia attracts a pre- 

 ponderance of females. Flies can be induced to oviposit upon certain substances 

 near which ammonia is volatilized. Flies lay their eggs by preference in 

 organic substances which are capable of furnishing food for their larva and 

 they have some power which enables them to detect such substances. Butyric 

 and valerianic acids augment the oviposition response of the house fly to 

 ammoniated cotton. 



Flies and their relation to epidemic diarrhea and dysentery in Poona, 

 J. MoRisoN and W. D. Keyworth {Indian Jour. Med. Research, 3 {1916), No. 4. 

 pp. 619-627, figs. 3). — "The evidence indicates that flies, in spite of their num- 

 ber, do not contribute appreciably, if at all, to the mortality in the native city 

 of Poona, or to the annual epidemic of gastro-intestinal disease in Poona can- 

 tonment." 



[Report of the] department of entomology, H. T. Fernald {Massachusetts 

 Sta. Rpf. 1915, pt. 1, pp. 65ar-68a). — This brief report of the work of the year 

 deals particularly with the strawberry crown girdler {Otiorrhynchus ovatus), 

 which in the spring of 1915 appeared in enormous numbers in a forest nursery 

 and caused an estimated loss of over $15,000. Examinations made of beds of 

 2-year-old white pines, the tops of which were turning brown, showed that the 

 larvse had girdled the stems and roots at from 1 to 3 in. below the surface of 

 the ground. In addition to white pine, the red pine, Scotch pine, Juniperus 

 vlrgmiana, blue, Douglas, and Norway spruce, and even sugar maple seedlings 

 of the 2-leaf age were attacked, and in many cases severely injured. When 

 first examined, on Mny 15, the larvae were nearly mature and most of them 

 pupated within two weeks thereafter. The beetles were appearing by the mid.- 



