ENTOMOLOGY. 67 



worm {Lencania nnipuncta), and winter burning of infested land is 

 recommended. 



The grape root worm, F. M.Webster {Ohio Sta. Bui. 02, pjK 

 77-'.>'j^ pj. 1). — This consists of notes on the appearance and life history 

 of Fidia rituida, with an account of experiments in combating this 

 pes" in I.S94 and 1805, This hoary chestnut-colored beetle was present 

 in immense quantities in the northern portion of Ohio, especially in the 

 vicinity of Cleveland. The several stages of the insect's life history are 

 described in technical detail. The habits are briefly noted, there being 

 but one annual brood, from eggs laid under the bark of grapevines in 

 July and August, whence minute white, brown-headed larvae hatch, 

 drop to the ground, and make their way to the roots upon which they 

 feed. They attain their full growth before winter, when they pass into 

 earthen cells, developing into pupa) in June without further feeding, 

 and emerging from the latter part of June until September, but mostly 

 during July. The adults feed upon the foliage of the grapevines, com- 

 mencing with the lower leaves and gradually ascending until later in 

 the season they are found upon the youngest and most tender foliage. 

 The upper surface of the leaves is the place of their attack. Sometimes 

 the fruit is also eaten. , 



Ants and mites were found to attack the eggs of these insects, and 

 1 new hymenopterous genus, Fidiobia, and 2 new species, F.fiavipes 

 and Bracliysticha Jidm, were bred from the eggs and are technically 

 described by W. H. Ashmead. 



For the destruction of the adult beetles spraying with arsenites 

 was employed with satisfactory results, but owing to the irregular 

 emergence of the adults an abundance of beetles was always in evidence, 

 the newcomers taking the place of those that had perished by the arse- 

 nites. Kerosene emulsion, salt, and kainit were applied about the bases 

 of the grapevines for the destruction of the larva', but only kerosene 

 emulsion was in any way effective. An application of bisulphid of car- 

 bon, 4 to 6 oz. per vine, was made by means of 3 holes, each about 

 a foot from the base of the vine. When the soil was not too wet or 

 too dry this was found to be an effective method, although it can not 

 be used to advantage earlier than November on account of the pro- 

 longed season of oviposition. It is believed that additional treatment 

 with bisulphid of carbon in the spring will be found advantageous. 



It is urged that tlie soil of the vineyards be kept loosely cultivated 

 and banked slightly toward the rows, thus covering the roots more 

 deeply with light soil that will not crack, and so tend to jireveut the 

 larva' from reaching the roots. 



The San Josd scale, F. H. Htllman {Xevada Sta. Bui. 29, pp. 6', 

 figs. /). — This is a short popular bulletin giving the main facts in regard 

 to the life history of Aspidiotus perniciosuft, and describing its various 

 stages. The pest has made its appearan(;e in and about the town of 

 Eeno, where it affects apple, plum, and prune trees and rosebushes. 



