1019] ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 551 



spirochetes present and their peculiar arrangement and grouping led him to 

 believe that multiplication takes plnre In the liee, and that the latter are not 

 mere transmitters bnt true hosts of BpirocHoita recurrent. 



Government report on laundry machinery. — Its adaptability to various re- 

 quirements of disinfection and disinsection, W. D. PlEBCE, R. Fl. Hi t< iuson, 

 and A. MOSCOWITZ {10 print pom Nat. Laundry Jour., 81 (11)19), No. 1, pp. 

 4-14). — This is a report of a series of experiments conducted by agents of the 

 Bureau of Entomology of the U. S. Department of Agriculture with a view 

 to determining whether the regular processes used in the laundry establish- 

 ments of the Army are sufficient to insure control of the body louse, with con- 

 sideration in each case of the question of shrinkage of woolens. The results 

 of the experiments, here reported In detail, led to the following recommenda- 

 tions : 



" In the washer run a current of live steam 15 minutes, revolving cylinder 

 everj 5 minutes and discharging water of condensation every 5 minutes. Re- 

 move the garments and shake until almost dry. This requires only a few 

 Shakes. Submerge In water at 16T>° F. for 20 minutes without motion, except 

 a few revolutions every 5 minutes. Wash 15 minutes at 131° In heavy suds 

 and light load. Rinse 3 times, 3 minutes each, at 131°. Extract. Run in 

 tumbler 15 minutes, at a minimum of 140°. We advise live steam or very hot 

 soaking only in cases where there is no heated tumbler available, or where 

 the garments are suspected of being contaminated with very resistant spore- 

 hearing bacteria. In other words, we recommend the usual laundry methods 

 for tlie disinfection and disinsection, because of their added value of cleansing. 

 There can be no doubt that the ordinary processes of the laundry will kill all 

 lice ami their eggs, and probably all insect life. 



" We have proved that woolens can be treated with temperatures which will 

 kill lire and bacteria without undue shrinkage — that Is, 131°. Washing in 

 heavy suds, with motion; 105° soaking, without motion; live steam, without 

 motion, except occasionally to remove water of condensation; dry tumbling 

 of wet garments, do not cause undue shrinkage of woolens. 



"The overseas mobile laundry unit Is a completely satisfactory delousing 

 and sterilizing unit for all garments and hedding. The same is even more true 

 Of the cantonment laundries hecause of their very nature, which permits of 

 added facilities for finishing the garments." 



The birch case bearer (Coleophora fuscedlnella) in Sweden, 1915—1917, 

 N. A. Kkmxf.r [Meddel. Centralanst. Forsoksv. Jordbruksomr&det, No. 161 

 (1917), pp. 28, figs. 20; K. Landtbr. Akad. Handl. och Tidskr., 56 (1917), No. 

 7-8, pp. 6S7-660, figs. 20; abs. in Intemat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Intemat. Rev. 

 s,i. and Tract. Agr., 9 (191S), No. 5, p. 648).— This elachistid caused consider 

 able damage to birch trees in 1915 and 1916 by attacking the buds and foliage, 

 ami injury was also caused to pear, apple, Sorbu* aucupario, oaks, etc. The 

 pest rapidly decreased in numbers in 1917, due largely to Its natural enemies, 

 a list of which is given. 



A list of !."> references to the literature is Included. 



Olethreutes variegana, a microlepidopteran injurious to fruit trees in 

 Italy, A. Sabba (Hoi. Lab. Zool. Gen. e Agr. R, Seunla Sup. Agr. Portici, 12 

 (1918), pp. 175-187; abs. in Intemat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Intrrnat. Rev. Sci. and 

 Pract. Agr.. 9 (1918), No. 5, pp. 645. 6.' t 6) . — A report of morphological and bio- 

 logical studies of a lepidopteran which attacks common medlar, almond, ma- 

 haleb, plum, apricot, and apple trees in the districts of Santeramo Colle (Apulia) 

 and Matera (Rasilicata 1, Italy. It occurs in central and southern Europe, 

 Livonia, Finland, Sweden, and Asia Minor. Studies of its parasites have shown 

 five species to act as important checks. 



