ECONOMIC ZOOLOGY ENTOMOLOGY. 57 



extracts were assayed for alkaloidal content and also for fixed oil, and their 

 insect icidal value detei'niined by tests on Cimex lecttilariiis. 



The results indicate "tliat it is tbe oil and not the alkaloid to which larkspur 

 seed owes its insecticidal properties, and, since the fluid is seldom used inter- 

 nally but almost exclusively as an insecticide, it would seem that the menstruum 

 that will extract the largest amount of oil is the proper one to use. It should 

 bo noted, however, that the alkaloid has a slight insecticidal value, as the 

 sample containing 1 per cent of alkaloid and no oil was one-tenth as active as 

 the samples coiitahiiiig a high conlent of oil." 



The eggs and nymphal stages of the dusky leaf bug Calocoris rapidus, 

 R. L. Webster and D. Stoner (Jour. N. Y. Ent. Soc, 22 {1914), No. 3, pp. 229- 

 234, fig. 1). — During the course of studies of the insect enemies of the potato, 

 at the Iowa Experiment Station in 1913, the author found C. rapidus to occur 

 rather abundantly on potato plants. Further investigations led to the discovery 

 that both the nymphs and adults caused the growing tips to wilt as a result of 

 their attack. Adults confined in insectary cages readily deposited eggs in 

 potato stalks, usually placing them in the tissue at the junction of the smaller 

 stems with the main stalk and in the axils of the leaves. Insectary records 

 show that from 11 to 13 days were required during the latter half of July and 

 the first half of August for the eggs to hatch. Five nymphal stages are de- 

 scribed. There appear to be two generations in the latitude of Ames, the second 

 maturing during September. The winter is passed In the adult stage. 



A new insect pest of stored potatoes, H. L. Dutt (Agr. Jour. Bihar and 

 Orissa [India], 1 {1913), No. 2, pp. 139-1^1, pi. 1). — A hemipteran of the family 

 Tingidje is said to be a source of injury in two villages through puncturing and 

 sucking the sap of i)otatoes in warehouses. 



Notes on the green spruce aphis (Aphis abietina), F. V. Theobald ' (Ahji. 

 Appl. Biol., 1 {1914), No. 1, pp. 22-36, figs. 10). — Spruce trees of various kinds 

 were very severely attacked during 1913 by this aphidid, previous to which year 

 the author had not known it to do serious injury. Systematic, biologic, and eco- 

 nomic notes are here presented. It is stfited that winter treatment with strong 

 paraflin jelly gave excellent results and probably will prove to be the best 

 method of treatment. 



Contribution to the knowledge of the oak phylloxera, M. Hollrung {Eiihn 

 Arch., 5 {1914), pp. 347-382, figs. 5). — This paper deals with the life history and 

 habits of PhyUoxcra quercus with references to the literature on the subject. 



On the preparation of Coccidae for microscopical study, E. E. Green {Ann. 

 Appl. Biol., 1 {1914), No. 1, pp. 98-106). — The author describes the technique 

 necessary in the study of scale insects. 



A new Lachnodius in Madagascar, P. Vayssiere {Bui. Soc. Ent. France, No. 

 5 {1914), pp. 156, 157; ahs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, 

 and Plant Diseases, 5 {1914), No. 7, p. 968). — The coccid Lachnodius greeni 

 n. sp. occurs in clusters on the roots and stems of coffee, covered over by cells 

 of earth and bark made by ants, and is a serious coffee pest. 



A new coccid infesting citrus trees in California, R. E. Campbell {Ent. 

 News, 25 {1914), A"o. 5, pp. 222-224)- — A new soft scale discovered on citrus 

 trees near Claremont, which appears to be closely related to Coccus hesperidum, 

 is described as C. citricola n. sp. The species is said to have increased in 

 abundance since first discovered aild to have been found in a number of other 

 localities. 



The alfalfa caterpillar, V. L. Wildermuth {V. 8. Dept. Agr. Bui. 124 {1914), 

 pp. 40, pis. 2, figs. 20). — This is a report of studies of Eurymus curytheme car- 

 ried on since 1910 in the Southwest, where the caterpillars of this butterfly 

 73227°— No. 1—15 5 



