1918] ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 57 



auricularia at Newport, R. I., during the summer and fall of 1915 and the 

 entire season of 1916. A brief account of this pest by Glaser has previously 

 been noted (E. S. R., 32, p. 247). This earwig, first noted at Newport in 1911, 

 where it is supposed to have been introduced on nursery stock from Europe, 

 has increased so rapidly as to become a serious pest and cause much annoy- 

 ance. By 1916 about 10 square miles had become heavily infested, and many 

 liew small colonies were found outside of this area. Mention is also made 

 of a smaller colony reported from Seattle, Wash., in 1915, which had in- 

 creased rapidly. Although found all over Europe, it seldom occurs there in 

 great numbers. 



Eggs have been observed to be deposited in the ground in November and 

 December to the number of 50 to 90. The young earwigs, or larvae, may be 

 found in the ground or at night on the soil surface about May 5. They feed on 

 very tender green shoots, such as clover and grass, and possibly portions of 

 grass roots. Later they feed extensively on green shoots, such as Lima beans 

 or dahlia plants. When the dahlia buds begin to appear and the blossoms of 

 sweet William and early roses plentiful, they are damaged by the young ear- 

 wigs, which feed on the bases of the petals and stamens. After passing 

 through four larval stages they become adult about July 18 The adults feed 

 almost entirely on the petals and stamens of flowers, although many other 

 kinds of food, such as clover, grass, and terminal buds of chrysanthemums and 

 other fall flowers are eaten. They also kill and eat certain unprotected, 

 sluggish larvae, dead flies, and the dead or dying of their own species. In late 

 summer the adults congregate in large numbers in crevices or behind vines 

 near a good food supply. The males seldom live over winter, but the females 

 hibernate successfully in the ground from 2 to 8 in. below the surface. In 

 1916 they emei'ged from hibernation quarters the last week in April. 



The most important natural enemy appears to be the nematode Filaria 

 locustCB, which caused the death of approximately 10 per cent of the larvae 

 kept under close observation in the laboratory. Insecticidal and trapping 

 control work here reported led to the recommendation that from May 15 to 

 June 15 poisoned bread bait be broadcasted over the lawns and gardens just 

 before dark, followed by one or more additional applications at intervals of 

 three or four nights and that plants which show signs of having been eaten 

 be sprayed with arsenate of lead, 6 lbs. to 50 gal. of water. After July 1, when 

 necessary, a contact spray should be applied at night, covering the insects well 

 as they crawl over the grass and plants and repeated every three nights until 

 the numbers are sufficiently reduced. As a supplement the injection of con- 

 tact sprays into cracks and crevices where earwigs commonly hide through 

 the day should be made every other day. The author recommends that traps 

 be placed every 10 or 12 ft. along borders or near vines and the earwigs re- 

 moved therefrom each day by shaking the excelsior over a pail of kerosene 

 and water. 



Preliminary trials with the cacao thrips fungus {Agr. Neios [Barbados], 

 16 {1917), No. S89, p. 94).— A brief statement of the parasitism of thrips by 

 Sporotrichum globuliferum. 



Injury by tarnished plant bugs to the vine, L. Ftjlmek {Ztsclir. Pflansen- 

 krank., 26 (1916), No. 6-7, pp. 323-329, figs. 7).— This paper deals with Lygus 

 spinolce, which was the source of great injury to the vine at San Michele, 

 south Tyrol, and at Ligist, Steiermark, and L. pratensis at Krottendorf. 



Report on further investigations on the capsids which attack apples, 

 J. C. F. Fbyee and F. R. Pethekbridge {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 24 (1917), 

 No. 1, pp. 33-44, pi. 1). — Further investigations (E. S. R., 35, p. 464) show that 



