ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 59 



article describes the results obtained from band picking and trapping Agrotis 

 in 1912, which resulted in a reduction of the damage to crops. The Andres 

 Maire trap imported from Egypt was found to catch large numbers of the 

 moths. See also a previous note (E. S. R, 2S, p. 455). 



The biology of Feltia (Agrotis) exclaniationis and of Eiixoa (Agrotis) 

 segetuni according to observations in the Governments of Tula and Tver 

 in 1909-10, N. Sacharov (Ahs. in Rev. Appl. Ent., 2 (1914), 8er. A, No. J,, 

 pp. 211, 212). — A detailed report of observations. 



On the parasites of the eggs of Cydia pomonella and the investigation of 

 them by A. Radetzky, T. Stcherbakov {Reprint from Zap. Simferopol. Otd. 

 Imp. Ross. Obshch. Sadov., A'o. lJ/0 {191.)), pp. 12; ais. in Rev. Appl. Ent., 

 2 {1914), Ser. A, No. 4, p. 263). — A polemic article relative to the codling moth. 

 See also a previous note (E. S. R.. 31, p. G2). 



Repellents for protecting animals from the attacks of flies, H. W. Gratbill 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 131 {1914), pp. 26).— Following a review of the literature 

 the author reports the results of experimental tests of various substances or 

 mixtures for repelling flies. The results obtained have been summarized as 

 follows : 



"A 10 per cent mixture of crude carbolic acid (21.8 per cent phenols) in 

 cotton-seed oil has a very strong rejiellent action on flies, but this lasts less than 

 a day, in consequence of which it is necessary to apply the mixture every day. 

 The mixture should be applied lightly with a brush, since a heavy application 

 with a spray pump is likely to cause phenol poisoning. 



"Mixtures consisting of 10. 20, and 50 per cent of pine tar in cotton-seed oil 

 have marked repellent qualities. They should be applied lightly, and it is 

 necessary to apply them every day. A liberal application of a 10 per cent 

 mixture is deleterious to animals. This is also the case with a half-and-half 

 mixture of pine tar and Beaumont oil when applied lightly with a bru.sh. 



"A mixture of oil of tar (14 i)er cent phenols, volatile with steam) in cotton- 

 seed oil and in Beaumont oil has a very marked repellent action. A 10 per cent 

 mixture of oil of tar in cotton-seed oil is safe. A half-and-half mixture of oil 

 of tar and cottton-seed oil when applied liberally with a spray pump and 50 per 

 cent oil of tar in Beaumont oil applied with, a brush are not safe. Ten per 

 cent oil of tar in Beaumont oil is safe. When applied lightly it is necessary to 

 apply 10 per cent oil of tar in cotton-seed oil or 10 per cent oil of tar in Beau- 

 mont oil every day. Mixtures of 10 per cent of oil of citronella, oil of sassa- 

 fras, or oil of camphor in cotton-seed oil are powerful repellents, but they are 

 active for less than a day. 



"A. heavy application of fish oil oauses the hair to become sticky and fall out. 

 A light application did not produce these results. Pyrethrum powder is an 

 effective repellent, but its action lasts only for about a day." 



A list of 22 titles of the literature referred to is appended. 



On the biology of Trichomyia urbica, a psychodid, the larva of vsrhich is 

 xylophagous, D. Keilin {Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris'], 76 {1914), No. 10, 

 pp. 434-437, figs. 2). — The larva of this dipteran. unlike all other known species 

 of the family, is said to be xylophagous. It is found in galleries of old felled 

 trees eating the wood. 



The Phlebotomus papatasii, the transmitter of the " three days fever," 

 R. Morales {Escuela 2Ied. [Guatemala], 1914, Feb.; abs. in Amer. Jour.- Trop. 

 Diseases and Prev. Med., 1 {1914), ^^0. 12, pp. 815-818).— It is stated that in 

 Guatemala P. papatasii is the transmitting fjgent of the filterable virus that 

 produces the " three days fever." 



A flagellate infection of sand flies, F. P. Mackie (Indian Jour. Med. Re- 

 search, 2 (1914), No. 1, pp. 377-879, pi. i).— "Ten per cent of female sand flies 



