ENTOMOLOGY. 993 



A note on the preservation of bamboos from the attacks of the bamboo 

 beetle or "shot borer," E. 1'. Stebbing [Calcutta: Supt. Govt. Printing, India, 

 1903, pp. 16). — The "shot borer" is described, together with notes on its distribu- 

 tion, habits, and injurious attacks upon bamboos. Experiments were tried in 

 protecting bamboos against the attack of this pest by soaking them in a solution of 

 copper sulphate for 5 days or in Rangoon oil for 24 hours. As a result of these 

 experiments it was found that soaking bamboos for 5 days in water, followed by a 

 similar treatment for 5 days in a solution of copper sulphate, furnished no protection 

 against the hectics. When bamboos were treated in an oil tank, however, they 

 were protected against subsequent attack. 



A note on the Casuarina insect pests of Madras, E. P. Stebbing ( Calcutta: 

 Supt. Hint. Printing, India, 1903, pp. ?0). — Considerable insect injury has been 

 reported in Casuarina plantations along the eastern coast of Madras. A number of 

 these pests were identified, and notes are given on their life history and on means of 

 combating them. One of the most injurious species is Arbela tetraonis. The injury 

 is done by the caterpillar, which feeds upon the bark of infested trees. During the 

 period when the larva? are thus feeding upon the hark they may he readily detected 

 and destroyed by hand picking or by a kerosene emulsion. Various other pests are 

 described and suggestions given regarding their control. 



A note on the sandalwood boring insects of Madras, E. P. Stebbing (Cal- 



cutta: Supt. Govt. Printing, India, 1903, pp. 13). — Sandalw 1 is considerably injured 



by borers, the most important of which appears to be Zeuzera coffese. A detailed 

 account is presented of the life history and injurious habits of a species of Stromatiura, 

 the larva 1 of which live in the main stem or side branches of sandalwood trees. 

 Infested wood is greatly injured by this pest. Notes are also given on a number of 

 other species, including a wood wasp. 



The banded pine weevil and the brown pine weevil \.T<>ur. Ed. Agr. [Lon- 

 don], 11 (1005), Xo. 11, pp. 686-693, figs. 8). — Pissodes notatus is injurious in the 

 adult and larval stages. The insect is described and notes are given on its life 

 history. The hectics may he collected in nurseries and may also be captured in 

 considerable numbers by the use of trap trees. Hylobius abietis is reported as a very 

 serious pest. It attacks pine, spruce, larch, and fir. In controlling this insect it is 

 recommended that stumps and roots be removed from cleared areas after having 

 been left sufficiently long to serve as places for egg laying. One of the most success- 

 ful means of trapping the beetles consists in laying pieces of fresh Scotch-pine bark 

 on the ground in newly cleared and infested areas. The beetles collect under these 

 pieces of bark to feed. 



On the acquisition of alar appendages of the spruce form of Chermes 

 abietis piceae in the northwest Himalayas, E. P. Stebbing (Jour. Asiatic 

 Soc. Bengal, 72 (1903), II, Xo. 2, pp. 57-60).— The life history of this insect is 

 described in some detail with especial reference to the changes which occur at the 

 molting peril ids. During the last molting the species undergoes a great change, losing 

 its brilliant coloring and becoming inconspicuous. It differs from the winged form, 

 which occurs simultaneously at this period, in showing a greenish tinge. 



A first note on the life history of Chermes abietis picese, E. P. Stebbing 

 i Jour. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, 72 (1903), II, Xo. 4, pp. 229-235).— This insect was studied 

 on spruce at various elevations between 8,000 and 9,500 ft. The forms of the pest 

 which occur on silver fir are also noted and described in detail. 



The new K-L mixtures and San Jose scale, C. P. Close {Delaware Sta. Bid. 68, 

 pp. 23). — K-L is an abbreviation used to designate a mixture of kerosene, hydrated 

 lime, and water. At first a proprietary form of lime known as limoid was used, but 

 later other forms were found to be about equally effective. The mixture requires agita- 

 tion for about 5 minutes when dry slaked or air slaked is used, while only 3 minutes' 

 time is required when the limoid is used, No chemical action takes place between 



