ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 353 



parasites of this worm have been reared, mention of several of which were 

 made in the previous report, only three are abundant enough to be of much impor- 

 tance. It was found during 1D14 that the braconid parasite Phanerotoma tibialis 

 discussed in the previous report apparently larvii)osits in the fruit worm eggs. 

 The ichneumonid parasite, previously mentioned, has been determined by Cush- 

 man as Pristomeridia agilis. The common chalcidid parasite Trichogramma 

 ii'inuta, linown to parasitize the eggs of not less than 46 other species of insects, 

 is said to be the most important parasite of the fruit worm, 56 per cent of the 

 eggs having been attacked by it on dry bogs in the vicinity of the station bog. 

 The parasitic and predaceous enemies of the fruit worm are said to have de- 

 stroyed not less than 00 per cent of the infestation on dry bogs and fully 66 per 

 cent on flowed bogs in the vicinity of the station. 



The control of citrus insects, II. J. Quayle (California Sta. Circ 129 {1915), 

 pp. 35, figs. IS). — A summaiized account of the various moans for controlling 

 citrus pests. 



Control of dried-fruit insects in California, W. B. Barker ( U. 8. Dept. Agr. 

 Bui. 235 {1915), pp. 15, pis. 7, figs. 4)- — This report is based upon work con- 

 ducted in central California in large part since 1911, at which time it was taken 

 up by the author. The author's summary of the work and conclusions drawn 

 are as follows : 



" A considerable financial loss due to the infestation of dried fruit by insects 

 is experienced by packers, wholesale men, and retail dealers. There are sev- 

 eral species of insects which attack dried fruits on the Pacific coast, but of 

 these the most common and destructive are the Indian-meal moth and the dried- 

 fruit beetle. 



" Infestation takes place in the packing house, in the warehouse, and in the 

 grocery store. The insects find their way to the fruit through small cracks in 

 the boxes and between the folds of the paper. All insect life is destroyed in 

 fruits that are put through the boiling dip, and the processing of other fruits 

 can be accomplished by the addition of the belt heater to sterilize all fruit so 

 treated. 



" The use of an insect-free packing room and sterilized cartons or containers 

 which are sealed before being placed in the warehouses or cars will protect the 

 fruit from infestation imless the package is broken. There are several cartons 

 and methods of sealing that can be applied to dried fruit, but their cost will de- 

 termine their practicability. The secret of preparing an insect-free package 

 of dried fruit is to sterilize it at a temperature of 180 ° F. and protect it from 

 future infestation by the use of the insect-free packing room and sealing in 

 sterile cartons or packages. 



" The sealed carton not only protects the fruit from infestation, but it pre- 

 vents it from drying out and preserves it for long periods in the moist and at- 

 tractive condition in which it was packed. Moist fruit can be successfully 

 packed in sealed cartons, provided attention is paid to the moisture content. 

 The fruit must be carefully drained and must not be packed too hot. Machines 

 have been invented which will successfully wrap and seal small packages of 

 dried fruit at a moderate cost per thousand. It is probable that the time is 

 coming when it will be as necessary to put up dried fruit in sealed packages 

 as it is to pack cereals in that form to-day." 



Some external parasites of poultry with special reference to Mallophaga, 

 with directions for their control, G. W. Herrick (New York Cnnicll Sta. Bui. 

 359 (1915), pp. 233-268, figs. 22).— This bulletin deals in large part with the 

 Mallophaga, or bird lice (pp. 233-251), their injury to fowls, life history, etc. 

 A host list is given of the species reported as found on fowls and brief popular 



