1918] ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 359 



pt. 1, No. 2, pp. 37-78, pis. 2). — The subject Is dealt with under the headings of 

 physiography and topography, the plant environment and its relation to insects, 

 physical factors of the environment, the insect association, and soil insect 

 census. 



[Insect pests of Madras] {Madras Agr. Dept. Yearbook, 1917, pp. 76-99, pis. 

 8, fig. 1). — Notes are included by T. V. Ramakrishna Ayyar on the life history 

 and habits of the eye fly (Siphonella funicola) (pp. 76-83) ; a new pest of the 

 coconut palm ou the West Coast (Contheyla rotunda), which damages coconut 

 trees in the Cochin State (pp. 91-96) ; and on the egg-laying habits of the 

 agathi weevil {Alcides huho), which attacks agathi, cluster beans, and indigo 

 in South India and also the betel vine (pp. 97-99). Notes on the life history of 

 Megaccclum stramineum, a pest of Andropogon sorghum, by E. Ballard (pp. 

 83-87) and on Adisura atkinsoni, a pest of DoUchos lablab throughout the 

 Madras Presidency, which also attacks red gram to a small extent, by Y. Rama- 

 chandra Rao (pp. 87-91), are also included. 



Termites in the Luskerpore Valley, E. A. Andrews {Indian Tea Assoc, Sci. 

 Dept. Quart. Jour., No. 2 {1916), pp. 54-72, pis. 2, figs. 5). — A report upon ob- 

 servations of the depredations of termites in the Luskerpore Valley of South 

 Sylhet. 



The life of the grasshopper, J. H. Fabbe, trans, by A. Teixeiba de Mattos 

 {New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1917, pp. VIII +453). —The translator here 

 brings together the essays in the author's Souvenirs Entomologiques that treat 

 of grasshoppers, crickets, locusts, the cicada, the mantis, the foamy cicadella, 

 etc. 



The sycamore lace-bug (Corythucha ciliata), O. Wade {Oklahoma Sta. Bui. 

 116 {1917), pp. 16, figs. 7). — ^The sycamore lace-bug here considered and the 

 bagworm are about the only serious insect enemies of the western sycamore 

 {Platanus occidentatis). This lace-bug is widely distributed throughout the 

 United States, being the most common and probably the best known of tlie 

 tingids. It appears to confine itself entirely to trees of the genus Platanus, 

 being found throughout the range of the western sycamore. Observations made 

 by the author In Oklahoma nurseries failed to show that it attacks the eastei'U 

 plane tree {P. orieihtalis), though it Is thought that the native species P. 

 wrightii of Arizona and New Mexico and P. racemosa of California serve as 

 hosts. 



The injury Is caused by both the young and adults, which suck the sap from 

 the under surface of the leaves, the foliage being left in a whitish, deadened 

 state. In common with all members of the family this lace-bug hibernates in 

 the adult stage, usually under the loose, rougher bark of the host tree. Ovipo- 

 sition commences In March, the eggs being deposited along the larger ribs of 

 the leaves, singly or In groups of as many as ten. One female under observa- 

 tion which began March 18 had laid 284 eggs up to the time of her death on 

 June 9. The eggs hatch In from 14 to 21 days, averaging 15 days under optimum 

 conditions. The five nymphal instars were found to average 3, 3, 4, 5, and 5 

 days, respectively. 



Technical descriptions are given of the several stages of the species and their 

 distinguishing characteristics are pointed out. 



Mention Is made of several predatory enemies. A test made of several In- 

 secticides, including kerosene emulsion, fish-oil soap, and nicotin sulphate, 

 showed that a fish-oil soap solution consisting of fish-oil soap 1 lb. to water 

 6 gal. is the most practical and effective, and when carefully applied with a 

 good spraying apparatus it should be as cheap or cheaper than the other 

 solutions tested. 



