ENTOMOLOGY. 37 1 



[Brussehl, 17 {1901), Xn. 1, ]>]>. 4-'-4o). — Tlie author gives an account of the fruit 

 trees and shade trees which are most seriously attacked by this insect, together with 

 notes on its distril)ution. The damage caused by the species is said to be 10 times as 

 great as that of the gypsy mnth. 



The Rutherglen bug, Nysius vinitor {Agr. Gaz. New South Wales, 12 {1901), 

 No. 2, p. 247). — This insect appeared in great nundiers in a cherry orchard and caused 

 an unusual amount of damage. In combating the pest experiments were tried with 

 a fumigating tent and hydrocyanic-acid gas. This method proved very effective and 

 it is believed that the insects would be destroyed by using a diluted formula. 



Some insects injurious to small fruits, Mary E. Murtfeldt {Missouri Slate 

 Hort. Soc. Rpt. 1900, jip. 313-324) ■ — Brief notes on insects which are injurious to 

 strawberries, raspberries, and other small fruits. 



Disease of the black currant caused, by the gall mite, Phytoptus ribis, J. H. 

 AViLSOX {Juur. Uo)j. Hort. S<i(\ [Londnu'], 23 {1900), No. S, j)j>. 34<!-349, fig. i) .—Brief 

 biological and descriptive notes are given on this mite. The removal and destruc- 

 tion of infested buds is regardetl as only a temporary check and too expensive for 

 application on a large scale. Spraying with insecticides is practically useless when 

 the mites are protected within the bud scale. The only reliable method for exter- 

 mination of the pest is found in the complete destruction of infested plants and the 

 application of gas lime or slaked lime to the grouml after the removal of the bushes. 



Three unusual stra^vberry pests and a greenhouse pest, M. V. Slixgerland 

 {Neiv York Cornell Sta. Bui. 190, pp. 143-164, figs. 15). — The author's attention was 

 called to an attack of Caaecla ohsoletana on strawberry fields at Westfield, N. Y. 

 Specimens of the moth were collected and placed in breeding cages in which straw- 

 berry plants were set. The eggs were laid on the glass sides of the cages. The 

 duration of the egg stage was found to be 10 days. The caterpillars fed chiefly on 

 the underside of the leaves and after a few days began to roll the leaves together by 

 means of silken threads. There are probably 3 broods of the caterpillars during 

 the growing season, in May, July, and September. A parasite identified as Ehysal- 

 his atriceps was bred from a number of caterpillars. In one strawberry field an 

 experiment was tried in spraying with Paris green at the rate of 1 lb. to 150 gal. of 

 water, without the addition of lime. The leaves and young fruits were injured by 

 the Paris green and only a few caterpillars were destroyed. It is recommended that 

 where spraying is adopted, applications should be made before the blossoms open, 

 and if another spraying is required it should be done after the fruit is picked. Arse- 

 nate of lead is. recommended as more suitable than Paris green for this purpose. 

 Mowing over the strawberry patch after the fruit is picked, and burning the leaves, 

 is recommended as still more effective than spraying. 



At Leechburg, Pa., 2 species of ground beetles {Harpalus caliginosus and H. penn- 

 sylvanicus), are reported as injuring ripe strawberries by eating the seeds and inci- 

 dentally damaging the pulp to a greater or less extent. The beetles apparently 

 attack the fruit for the purpose of getting the seeds, but when the fruit is scarce 

 they feed upon the pulp, especially of very ripe berries. By raking off the mulch 

 and placing a few boards l)etween the rows, the beetles may be enticed under such 

 protection and thus found and destroyed. They are attracted to lights and it is sug- 

 gested that they may be successfully combated by means of lantern traps. The 

 beetles may be attracted to similar traps by means of meat baits. 



Biological and economic notes are given on the white fly of the strawljerry Ijelong- 

 ing to the genus Aleurodes. The life cycle of these insects occupies from 4 to 5 

 weeks, and there are 3 or more broods during the growing season. The insects 

 congregate mostly on the underside of the leaves, from which they suck the sap. 

 They may be combatetl by a spray of kerosene emulsion, mechanical mixture of 

 kerosene and water, or whale-oil soaj), directed so as to strike the lower side of the 

 leaves. 



